Some 10 million Greeks are summoned this Sunday to the polls to elect a new Parliament and Government between the continuity of the conservatives in power, who start as favourites, or a shift to the left.
The elections are held after thirteen very hard years for the Hellenic population since the collapse of its economy unleashed in 2010 by a huge debt that put the country on the brink of the abyss and exit from the euro zone. The situation has clearly improved since then: the Greek economy grew by 6% last year.
But there is still a long way to go for this country, one of the poorest in the European Union (EU), with a population concerned above all about the sharp rise in the cost of living. In the latest polls, the conservative New Democracy (ND) formation of the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakisappears in first place with 32% of the intention to vote, 6 points ahead of the leftist party Syriza, of the former head of Government Alexis Tsipras (26%).
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In third place, with 9%, is the Social Democrat Pasok-Kinal, followed by the Communist Party (6.5%) and the leftist MerA25 of former Finance Minister Yanis Varufakis (3.5%). Mitsotakis is presented as the “only option” to guarantee stability and keep Greece on the path of growth.
“On one side is the New Democracy governance proposal and on the other is absolute chaos,” Mitsotakis said during a rally, alluding to the fragmentation of the left.
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For his part, tsipras He proposes to form a “progressive government” with the Pasok-Kinal Social Democrats despite the fact that they, like the communists and Varufakis supporters, have so far refused to cooperate with him.
The leftist leader is confident that the electorate will “remove” a Corrupt government”which he accuses of having violated democracy and the rule of law, mainly due to a scandal involving wiretapping of journalists and politicians by the secret services.
The current Executive “has established a regime” that favors the rich and that “injures democracy with criminal acts,” he told efe the public official Maria Manolakiand revealed during a rally that he will vote for Syriza.
Syriza’s program is more ambitious, with “immediate” relief measures, such as reduce VAT on food and other fuel taxes, as well as putting an end to evictions from homes.
But the experts consulted by efe they consider it unlikely that the left can defeat the conservatives. “Syriza has already burned her letter when she promised change in 2015” and then agreed to the steep cuts demanded to get the country’s third bailout, explained political scientist Nikos Frangonikolópulos.
Be that as it may, the polls predict that tomorrow neither party will obtain an absolute majority required by law, which would lead to new elections in early July, when the party with the most votes would get a bonus of up to 50 seats.
Polling stations will remain open between 07:00 and 19:00 local time (04:00-16:00 GMT) and the first results are expected to be published a few hours later.
