Greece holds key elections over EU bailout

Greeks are going to the polls again in crucial elections which could determine the country's future in the eurozone.

The main contenders, the left-wing Syriza and right-wing New Democracy, are at odds over whether broadly to stick with the tough EU bailout deal, or reject it and boost social spending.

EU leaders say that to reject it would lead Greece out of the eurozone.

The poll, the second in six weeks, was called after a vote on 6 May proved inconclusive.

Sunday's vote is being watched around the world, amid fears that a Greek exit from the euro could spread contagion to other eurozone members and send turmoil throughout the global economy.

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.

Many Greeks are unhappy with the conditions attached to deals which have been keeping Greece from bankruptcy.

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.

On the eve of the vote, Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "It is extremely important that tomorrow's Greek elections lead to a result in which those who form the government say, 'Yes, we want to keep to our commitments."

Chancellor Angela Merkel was one of several European leaders who took part in a video conference on Friday ahead of a G20 summit, starting in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos on Monday, which is set to be dominated by the eurozone crisis and the aftermath of the election.

The head of New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, told supporters on Friday that he would lead the country out of the financial crisis, while staying in the eurozone.

He broadly accepts Greece's international bailout, but says he will renegotiate the terms of the agreement to seek a better deal for Greeks.

"We will exit the crisis; we will not exit the euro. We will not let anyone take us out of Europe," Mr Samaras said.

The youthful head of Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, rejects the bailout, but wants Greece to stay in the eurozone, saying a bailout is possible without the kind of drastic cuts demanded of Greece.

"Brussels expect us, we are coming on Monday to negotiate over people's rights, to cancel the bailout," he told a final rally on Thursday.

The BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, says the vote is likely to leave big questions for Europe's leaders when they meet for an EU summit at the end of the month in Brussels.

Greeks were celebrating hours before the polls opened, after their national football team qualified for the quarter finals of Euro 2012 with a surprise 1-0 win over Russia.

"We are proud that we gave the people back home some joy and a break from their problems - even for a short while," striker Georgios Samaras said.

The Kathimerini website noted that Greeks had few reasons to feel national pride at the moment, but sport had provided them with plenty of it.

The victory could lead to a quarter final tie against Germany.

New Democracy

Keep bailout but more time for restructuring and EU help to stimulate growth

19%

Socialist (Pasok)

Keep bailout but subject it to a "structured and courageous revision"; implement fiscal adjustment over three years, not two

13%

Syriza

Cancel bailout, nationalise banks and freeze privatisations, but stay inside eurozone

17%

Independent Greeks

Reject bailout but remain in eurozone

11%

Democratic Left

Gradually disengage from bailout but stay in eurozone

6%

Communist (KKE)

Unilaterally cancel debt, leave the EU and restore Greece's own currency

9%

Golden Dawn

Tear up the bailout but not necessarily abandon the euro

7%