Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis told Bloomberg that Greece could stumble out of the euro by accident should its new government fail to reach an agreement with Greece’s international creditors soon after the elections of January 25. The main challenge facing an upcoming government would be to close the stalled review of Greek progress in meeting the terms of its financial rescue by the euro area and the International Monetary Fund, he told Bloomberg.

He said that a government led by the main opposition Radical Left Coalition SYRIZA party would have to reverse its stand and negotiate an extension to the bailout before the aid supporting Greece expires on February 28.

In his television interview with Bloomberg Television in Athens on Monday, Mr. Hardouvelis said the prospect of leaving the euro area is “not necessarily a bluff.”