NEWS

Leader of liberal Drasi sees ND and PASOK disappearing

The leader of the small liberal party, Drasi, which failed to win any seats in Parliament in Sunday?s elections has predicted that Greece?s two main parties, New Democracy and PASOK, may be wiped out if new polls are held next month.

Attempts to form a unity government have failed so far. PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos is due to begin on Thursday his attempt to create consensus. But Drasi chief Stefanos Manos says the poor showing of PASOK and New Democracy, who gained a combined total of 32 percent, is undermining the process, rather than rise of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA).

?The problem is not [SYRIZA leader] Alexis Tsipras, it is the complete destruction of New Democracy and PASOK,? Manos told Skai TV.

Manos said that if new elections are held in the next few weeks, PASOK and New Democracy could ?no longer exist.?

Drasi only gained 1.8 percent of the vote on Sunday but is now looking to cooperate with other liberal parties. Manos said that he had already been in contact with Dora Bakoyannis, the head of Democratic Alliance (DISY), to discuss a pact. DISY gained 2.55 percent on Sunday.

?Drasi is trying to create a pro-reform front with parties that want Greece to remain in the euro,? said Manos. ?We already have an understanding with Dora Bakoyannis and have discussed the possibility of accepting New Democracy members to join this effort.?

Manos has rejected the option of accepting ND leader Antonis Samaras?s call for the creation of a pro-European center-right front. Manos said there was no way he would return to New Democracy, a party he represented in the past, while Samaras was leader.

The pro-business Dimiourgia Xana (Recreate Greece), which gained 2.15 percent in its election debut, has also expressed an interest in cooperating with Drasi.

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