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Greek election: Parties make final push for votes Greek election: Parties make final push for votes
(about 6 hours later)
Parties in Greece are making their last pitch for votes ahead of a repeat election seen as crucial to the debt-laden country's future in the eurozone.Parties in Greece are making their last pitch for votes ahead of a repeat election seen as crucial to the debt-laden country's future in the eurozone.
New Democracy, the pro-bailout conservative party which narrowly led at the ballot last month, is due to hold its last big campaign rally. New Democracy, the pro-bailout conservative party which narrowly led at the ballot last month, is holding its last big campaign rally in Athens.
Syriza, the anti-bailout bloc which surged to second place in May, held its final rally in Athens on Thursday.Syriza, the anti-bailout bloc which surged to second place in May, held its final rally in Athens on Thursday.
Unofficial opinion polls suggest a fall in support for anti-bailout parties.Unofficial opinion polls suggest a fall in support for anti-bailout parties.
Under Greek election law, official opinion polls are banned in the two weeks before the election.Under Greek election law, official opinion polls are banned in the two weeks before the election.
Tough austerity measures were attached to the two international bailouts awarded to Greece, an initial package worth 110bn euros (£89bn; $138bn) in 2010, then a follow-up last year worth 130bn euros.Tough austerity measures were attached to the two international bailouts awarded to Greece, an initial package worth 110bn euros (£89bn; $138bn) in 2010, then a follow-up last year worth 130bn euros.
While five of the seven main political groups reject the last bailout, only one - the Communists - wants the country to abandon the euro.While five of the seven main political groups reject the last bailout, only one - the Communists - wants the country to abandon the euro.
Germany, which has the eurozone's most powerful economy, insists Greece, like other member-states which have received international bailouts, must abide by the austerity conditions.Germany, which has the eurozone's most powerful economy, insists Greece, like other member-states which have received international bailouts, must abide by the austerity conditions.
German Bundesbank (central bank) chief Jens Weidmann repeated the warning on Friday, adding that the eurozone could not allow any country to "blackmail" it with the threat of financial contagion.German Bundesbank (central bank) chief Jens Weidmann repeated the warning on Friday, adding that the eurozone could not allow any country to "blackmail" it with the threat of financial contagion.
Spanish exampleSpanish example
Alexis Tsipras has held his last campaign rally in Athens, warning speculators not to bet on Greece leaving the eurozone "because you will lose".Alexis Tsipras has held his last campaign rally in Athens, warning speculators not to bet on Greece leaving the eurozone "because you will lose".
Mr Tsipras's party has enjoyed a surge in support, even though his opponents say his economic plans do not add up.Mr Tsipras's party has enjoyed a surge in support, even though his opponents say his economic plans do not add up.
Sounding confident, he said the die had been cast and on Sunday "we turn the page". He vowed to keep Greece in the eurozone but renegotiate the tough terms of its bailout agreement. If Spain can have more lenient conditions, he asked, why can't we?Sounding confident, he said the die had been cast and on Sunday "we turn the page". He vowed to keep Greece in the eurozone but renegotiate the tough terms of its bailout agreement. If Spain can have more lenient conditions, he asked, why can't we?
His Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza) has risen to prominence on the back of anti-austerity protests. Mr Tsipras accused the main parties of the centre-left and centre-right of looting the country, and handing the national flag to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.His Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza) has risen to prominence on the back of anti-austerity protests. Mr Tsipras accused the main parties of the centre-left and centre-right of looting the country, and handing the national flag to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The leader of the centre-right New Democracy party, Antonis Samaras, told his supporters on Friday that Greece would exit its financial crisis but not the euro.
"The first choice the Greek people must make is: euro versus drachma," he told the rally in front of parliament in Syntagma Square.
Mr Samaras, who wants to ease the bailout conditions, has accused anti-bailout parties of "playing poker" with Greece.
At Thursday's rally, Syriza leader Alexis Tspiras renewed his pledge to tear up the bailout conditions, which involve drastic spending cuts, tax rises, and labour market and pension reforms.At Thursday's rally, Syriza leader Alexis Tspiras renewed his pledge to tear up the bailout conditions, which involve drastic spending cuts, tax rises, and labour market and pension reforms.
"The memorandum of bankruptcy will belong to the past on Monday," he told supporters in Omonoia Square."The memorandum of bankruptcy will belong to the past on Monday," he told supporters in Omonoia Square.
"Brussels expect us, we are coming on Monday to negotiate over people's rights, to cancel the bailout.""Brussels expect us, we are coming on Monday to negotiate over people's rights, to cancel the bailout."
He pointed to the huge bank loan package deal between the EU and Spain on Sunday, arguing a bailout was possible without the kind of drastic cuts demanded of Greece. Pointing to the huge bank loan package deal between the EU and Spain on Sunday, he argued that a bailout was possible without the kind of drastic cuts demanded of Greece.
"Spain negotiated and succeeded in taking financial support without a fiscal consolidation package, despite the lenders' threats and blackmail," Mr Tsipras said."Spain negotiated and succeeded in taking financial support without a fiscal consolidation package, despite the lenders' threats and blackmail," Mr Tsipras said.
Interviewed by Spanish daily El Pais, Jens Weidmann called for the eurozone to impose broad conditions on Spain over its loan package, worth up to 100bn euros.Interviewed by Spanish daily El Pais, Jens Weidmann called for the eurozone to impose broad conditions on Spain over its loan package, worth up to 100bn euros.
He warned that Greece, but also the Irish Republic and Portugal, had been given the impression that this was a "rescue with no conditionality outside the financial system" and this was "already eroding the commitment to the terms of the existing programmes".He warned that Greece, but also the Irish Republic and Portugal, had been given the impression that this was a "rescue with no conditionality outside the financial system" and this was "already eroding the commitment to the terms of the existing programmes".
"But foot-dragging on addressing the structural problems will perpetuate the crisis, and the market reaction reflects this concern," Germany's top banker said."But foot-dragging on addressing the structural problems will perpetuate the crisis, and the market reaction reflects this concern," Germany's top banker said.
On Friday evening, New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras is expected to address his supporters in the capital's Syntagma Square, near the Greek parliament.
Mr Samaras, who wants to ease the bailout conditions, has accused anti-bailout parties of "playing poker" with Greece.
"There is the path of responsibility, in which you are clear about what you want, and we say we want the euro and re-negotiation [of the bailout]," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.
Are you in Greece? Will you be voting in the election? If you are willing to be interviewed on the BBC please fill in the form below.Are you in Greece? Will you be voting in the election? If you are willing to be interviewed on the BBC please fill in the form below.
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