Debt-stricken Greece seeks new path in polls

ATHENS

AFP photo

Bailed-out Greece set for parliamentary elections on May 6 amid widespread expectations that it will produce a political deadlock and renewed economic turmoil in the troubled eurozone state.

Conservative leader vowed not to seek a coalition government with Socialist rivals. Antonis Samaras, head of the center-right New Democracy party, told supporters at his main campaign rally in Athens that a partnership with the Socialist Pasok party would hurt the country.

“I do not want to form a government with Pasok. It is not in the interest of the Greek people to have a power-sharing government of this kind to exist. This would increase graft,” The Associated Press quoted Samaras as saying. Samaras joined the majority Socialists in an interim coalition for the past six months, to push through vital bailout loan and debt restructuring deals, against growing public and political opposition to harsh austerity measures imposed in return for the rescue money.

New Democracy is leading opinion polls, but is facing a strong challenge from rightist splinter parties and the fascist Golden Dawn party that have campaigned heavily on illegal immigration in the crisis-hit country. Surveys suggest New Democracy will not receive enough support to govern outright, and failure to form a government would force another general election.