Party leaders reving up their engines

Page last updated at 07:20 GMT, Friday, May 4, 2012 - 12:20 EST

New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras, addressing a rally in front of the Zappeion Hall on Thursday evening, called for a "strong mandate to change everything" and sent a message of optimism that "Greece can and shall manage."

Samaras stressed that "I don't want to rule jointly with PASOK and it is not in the interest of the Greek people for such a joint governance to take place, it is only in the interest of PASOK to fall softly, it is in the interest of vested interests and of extra-institutional centers."

The ND leader went on to say that "if we form a government with PASOK we would be the prisoner of its policy. We would be obliged to keep balances continuously, but we want to make great leaps. What we need is stability, a strong mandate and a strong government for us to forge ahead. The small parties also want a joint governance so as to denounce it."

Some analysts say Samaras could refuse alliances and seek another election if he polls strongly.

Samaras angered international lenders by voting against Greece’s first bailout deal and only reluctantly backing the second, worth 130 billion euros, that is now keeping the country afloat. He argues that fiscal tightening will only plunge Greece into a deeper recession.

Tsipras asks mandate for Left government

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Parliamentary Group president Alexis Tsipras, addressing a rally in Omonia Square in Athens on Thursday evening, called on the Greek people for a mandate for the creation of a government of the Left. He also asked for the vote of the undecided, those supporters of the PASOK and New Democracy parties who have been disappointed by their parties, as well as of the entire spectrum of the Left.

Tsipras further said that "nobody and nothing any more can stop a people determined to change their fate" and added "the tide will not turn back."

Greece’s youngest political leader, Alexis Tsipras, is seeking a united left front that will call time on the harsh austerity that comes with an international bailout keeping Athens afloat.

He calls the ultimatum thrown down by mainstream parties, bailout or bust, a scare tactic to force people to accept painful cuts in pay and pensions.

PASOK leader campaign rally on Rhodes

PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, addressing a rally in the city of Rhodes on Thursday evening, stressed that "in these elections the future of parties or persons will not be decided but the future of the Greek people" and pointed out that the very fate of the people will be judged and the country's fate for the next 20 years.

He made special reference to those who voted for PASOK in 2009, saying that he is looking them in the eyes and is calling on them, despite the objections and reservations they have, to support PASOK for the colossal effort that began and which aims at the country's exit from the memorandum to be completed.

Socialist party leader Evangelos Venizelos is running an uphill race to Sunday’s election, trying to convince angry Greeks that deeply unpopular economic reforms are the only way to escape the worst crisis in decades.

Venizelos would rather have a wider coalition with a third party prime minister and says he can convince lenders to spread the painful measures agreed in exchange for the bailout over three years instead of two.

But critics say his egocentric election campaign as one of the two big beasts of Greek politics may have hurt him as much as his difficult message - suffer the tough measures or leave the euro zone, something most Greeks want to avoid.

Some information for this report was provided by AMNA, Kathimerini, Reuters