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32 parties to compete in Greece’s general polls

30 April 2012 20:49 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A total of 32 parties on Monday entered the final week of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s general elections in Greece, after the approval of their participation by the country’s Supreme Court, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The court examined the applications of 36 political parties this time, banning in accordance with the electoral law from contesting the election, monarchists and parties with titles that implied "criminal intent."

In the previous general elections held on October 2009, before the eruption of the severe Greek debt crisis that has alarmed the global financial system, a total of 23 parties had participated, with the socialists winning a clear parliamentary majority.

The May 6 election is regarded as one of the most critical held over the past 30 years in Greece, as parties and voters are divided over the austerity and reform program introduced to address the debt crisis and avert a financial meltdown. The outcome could determine Greece’s future within the eurozone, according to analysts.

A total 9.85 million citizens are eligible to vote, up by some 360,000 voters from the 2009 polls, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry, while the new parliament will convene on May 17.

The last opinion polls released on April 20, two weeks before the elections, according to the law, showed that at least nine parties could enter the parliament this time in comparison to five two years ago, securing the 3-percent threshold.

According to the surveys, no party will gain a parliamentary majority in the upcoming polls, forcing leaders to seek coalition partnerships.

The conservative New Democracy party of Antonis Samaras that backs the outgoing transitional government that secured a new bailout deal before calling the elections, is expected to win the first place with 21.9 percent to 25.5 percent.

Meanwhile, their socialist partners of PASOK led by former Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos are expected to garner 17.1 percent to 19.1 percent.

The two parties have ruled Greece over the past four decades, but their strong commitment to the painful austerity and reform program implemented since 2010 in exchange of vital aid from international lenders, has dramatically reduced their percentages to record lows.

On the contrary, parties from the Left to the Right that oppose the program, such as the Communist Party, the Left SYRIZA coalition and newly-founded groups such as the Democratic Left and the Right-wing Independent Greeks, have seen their popularities skyrocketing.

For first time according to the opinion polls, the neo-fascist party "Chrissi Avyi" (Golden Dawn) will also enter the parliament.