Greek elections: Party leaders make final calls for votes

By BBC

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has made a final appeal to voters ahead of Sunday’s general election, with his party battling the left-wing Syriza.

Mr Samaras said that despite years of austerity, the country was showing signs of recovery.

Meanwhile, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said his party would restore “dignity” to Greece.

He wants to renegotiate Greece’s debt and end the austerity measures imposed by an international bailout.

Greece has endured deep budget cuts tied to its massive bailout from the so-called troika – the EU, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB).

The possibility of a Syriza victory in Sunday’s vote has sparked fears that Greece could default on its debt and exit from the euro.

Drachma lobby’

In a final, combative campaign rally, Mr Samaras told supporters of his conservative New Democracy party he had worked “day and night” to keep the country standing.

Syriza, he argued, could force the country from the Euro by its policies, serving what he called the “drachma lobby”, a reference to the former Greek currency.

He also warned that Greece could miss out on a massive programme of quantitative easing unveiled by the ECB.

Mr Tsipras said he hoped to work out a “mutually acceptable solution” with Greece’s creditors by the time the country is eligible for support in July.

Supporters of Syriza hold a banner saying "Change Greece, Change Europe" at a pre-election rally in central Athens on 22 January 2015

Supporters of Syriza back its calls for change at a pre-election rally in Athens

Supporters cheer as Prime Minister Antonis Samara arrives to deliver a pre-election speech in Athens - January 23, 2015

Crowds of New Democracy party voters came out to support Prime Minister Samara

At a campaign rally on Thursday, he said an end to “national humiliation” was near, repeating a promise to have half of Greece’s international debt written off when the current bailout deal ends.

Syriza has moderated its stance since the peak of the eurozone crisis, and says it wants Greece to stay in the euro.

But critics say that what the party is advocating may mean Greece will be forced to leave the eurozone whether it wants to or not.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the country to remain part of the eurozone.

“At the heart of our principles lies solidarity,” she said. “I want Greece, despite the difficulties, to remain part of our story.”

Germany is seen in Greece as taking the hardest line on its debt.

Earlier this month, a spokesman for Mrs Merkel said Germany expected Greece to uphold the terms of its international bailout agreement.