In late April 2012, Papademos announced that he would ask President Karolos Papoulias to dissolve the Hellenic Parliament, paving the way for a general election to be held on 6 May 2012. Papademos had intended to stand down shortly after this election, but it resulted in a hung parliament. Subsequently, New Democracy, PASOK, and the anti-austerity SYRIZA – which had jumped into second place – attempted to form a government, but all were unsuccessful. Emergency negotiations to attempt to avoid a return to the polls took place on 13 May, but were inconclusive. On the same day, Papademos wrote to President Papoulias to inform him that the Ministry of Finance could only afford to pay salaries until the end of June, and that the need for Greece to recapitalise her liquid assets was "urgent". Negotiations in the aftermath of the election were unable to produce a government leading to a snap general election, which took place on 17 June 2012. In the wake of the announcement of the election Papademos stepped down, proposing Panagiotis Pikrammenos – a judge and the President of the Council of State – to replace him as caretaker prime minister until a permanent government could be formed.