Video

Greeks go to the polls on Sunday (September 16) with the prospect of a tightly contested race, and the possibility of no clear majority, forcing a coalition government or new elections, after the last opinion polls published before a blackout showed disillusioned voters moving away from the two main political parties. Greeks' main concerns as they head to the ballot focus on which government will give them a better standard of living. Pensioners complain of monthly payments that are too low to live on, graduates cant find jobs in their sector and are forced to work as taxi drivers, parents say their wages are too low to support their families and they must find second jobs. All serious issues in a country with a debt ridden and fractured pension system, unemployment higher than the eurozone average, poverty at about 20 percent, and wages lower than other EU countries. The government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has boasted successes this year, cutting the country's huge budget deficit, bringing the economy back on track, creating new jobs and reducing unemployment from 11.3 percent in March 2004 to 7.7 percent in May. One month before elections, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his ruling conservative New Democracy party were leading in the polls against their main opponent, the Socialist PASOK party, despite a political and economic scandal over overpriced bonds this year that had upset the public. Karamanlis vowed to cure the sick pension system, offered new tax breaks, and push with more reforms whether popular or not, after being criticized of moving too slowly while in power. But recent forest fires that devastated the country drew an emotional backlash from the public, and criticism of the government for a delayed and disorganized response. Polls conducted three weeks before elections and at the time of the fires, the last to be published before the blackout, showed disillusioned voters were moving their votes to smaller parties. Although Karamanlis remained in the lead by one to two percentage points, both his party and his main rival, Socialist party (PASOK) leader George Papandreou, had lost some support. Karamanlis' government rushed to hand out compensation to fire victims and outline a full reconstruction plan for the area The opposition has fired criticism at the New Democracy party over the fires throughout its campaign, and had also presented a full reconstruction program for the fire ravaged area. But the public also criticized the main opposition party for not taking pre-emptive measures while it was in power to avoid the fire disaster. What has emerged, say analysts, is a public weariness for both the main parties as reforms take too long and scandals arise. New Democracy and Pasok have between them ruled Greece for the last thirty years. The names Papandreou and Karamanlis have dominated politics since democracy was installed in 1974. Voters are reacting by shifting their support to smaller parties. "Alot of Greek voters have very negative feelings about both New Democracy and PASOK, I could even say they have negative feelings about the political system, which is mainly composed of New Democracy and PASOK. This trend, because there is a trend here, will lead votes to the communists, Synaspismos, LAOS, even to the smaller parties. There is no question about the trend, the only question seems to be if this would prove to be strong enough at election day." said Constantine Panagopoulos of the Alco polling group. Analysts say it is now possible neither of the main parties may reach a parliamentary majority, and face having to form a coalition with the smaller parties or call new elections. One of the parties that could be a power broker is a right wing nationalist party that has been accused of racism and anti-semitism. The Popular Orthodox Alarm party, or "LAOS", led by George Karatzaferis, may enter parliament for the first time in more than thirty years, drawing voters from the conservative party discontent over the fires and the previous bond scandal by the government. Karatzaferis, who supports closer ties with the church and is against Turkey joining the European Union, strongly denies accusations of intolerance towards immigrants and racism. Of the elections he says that it is time one party ruling the country --the "monocracy", ended. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis says he will not agree to a coalition government and the country will be forced into new elections. He said badly needed reforms needed one strong voice, urging voters to give his party the majority to continue progress and stability in the country. Analysts say voters tired with the election process and constant political change, and who do not want another election may be swayed by this argument into voting for the main parties, despite fires and scandals. But many may make their decision at the last minute, making this election tough to predict.