Greek political leaders shared optimism over the outcome of Sunday’s critical national polls, the second in six weeks that could determine the country’s economic future and whether it could stay in the eurozone.
“I am certain my fellow Greek compatriots are fully aware of what is at stake in today’s electoral race and that it will lead as soon as possible to the formation of a new government that will address the country’s problems,” outgoing caretaker Prime Minister Panayiotis Pikrammenos said after he cast his vote in a polling station in Athens.
He expressed solidarity with hundreds of fire-fighters and citizens who were still battling with several wildfires since Saturday across Greece.
“We won the battle against fear. Today we are paving the path to hope, towards a better future, with Greek peoples united, with dignity and pride,” Alexis Tsipras, head of the anti-austerity Radical Left Coalition SYRIZA, and one of the main contenders, told reporters, after casting his ballot in central Athens.
“Today it is Greek peoples’ turn to have a say and tomorrow a new era starts for Greece,” conservative pro-reform New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras had commented earlier on Sunday in the southern peninsula of Peloponnese.
Opinion polls indicate that the outcome of the duel between ND and SYRIZA which are at odds over whether Greece should stay with the austerity introduced in exchange of two international bailouts since 2010 to avoid a financial meltdown or tear the memorandum off and take a different path to resolve the debt crisis, is too close to call.
Pollsters predict that no party will win outright parliamentary majority, despite the 50-seat bonus granted to the first party under the electoral law. A coalition government therefore will have to be formed.
Marathon coalition talks after the first inconclusive May 6 elections ended in impasse, fueling anxiety within Greece and abroad over whether the country could avoid the worst case scenario – a chaotic Greek default and eventually an exit from the eurozone – that could send shockwaves across the single currency area and global markets.
About 9.8 million Greek citizens eligible to vote, wearied by deep recession, queue at polling stations to make a hard choice between a mild revision of deals or a more radical approach.
Leaders of smaller parties, such as the Left-wing moderate Democratic Left and the Right-wing Independent Greeks, which are expected to pass the three percent threshold and most likely join a coalition government, sent similar messages of confidence Sunday.
Opinion polls forecast that at least seven parties out of twenty-one competing will enter the new parliament, including the pro-bailout socialists of PASOK led by Former Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, and anti-bailout Communist party, the Independent Greeks and the neo-fascist Chryssi Avgi (Golden Dawn).
The first estimates of exit polls will be announced by local television channels once poll stations close at 19:00 p.m. local time. The first official projections are due later in the evening, with the final results expected Monday.
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