Karamanlis issues unifying call
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis targeted the undecided among the 9.8 million Greeks eligible to vote as he called for the creation of a «broad social alliance» yesterday night when he concluded his election campaign with a speech in Athens. Speaking to New Democracy supporters at the Pedion tou Areos park ahead of Sunday’s general elections, Karamanlis asked for a «clear mandate» to form a «stable government,» which he pledged would be made up of people of all ages who «have an appetite for work.» Karamanlis’s advisers believe that his tactic of warning voters of the disadvantages of a government with a slim majority have helped to convince wavering voters to back New Democracy. The premier has also made it clear that he would not enter into a coalition with the right-wing nationalists of Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) if Giorgos Karadzaferis’s party gains seats for the first time. Karamanlis’s aides believe this has stemmed a flow of support from ND to LAOS and will likely ensure that the ruling conservatives return to power with a clear majority. Karamanlis continued to promote a conciliatory and unifying ideology, which ND believes will help it pick up votes when compared to the stinging criticism PASOK has aimed at the government. «This is the time when you choose security over insecurity, it is the time when you choose responsibility over populism,» said Karamanlis, who celebrated his 51st birthday yesterday. In a final bid to prove that he is capable of leading the country, PASOK leader George Papandreou presented his plans for a Socialist government. Papandreou said he would reduce the number of ministries from 19 to 16 and create a separate Environment Ministry, which has become a hot topic in the wake of the destructive wildfires this summer. He also proposed a new Research and Technology Ministry. Papandreou concluded his campaigning in Patras, where he spoke at a public rally and made an appeal to voters considering supporting other parties of the Left to cast their ballot for PASOK. «No democrat, no progressive person, no Socialist, no leftist can surrender the fate of the country to the Right,» said the 55-year-old Papandreou. Tomorrow’s election will be based on an electoral law implemented for the first time since being introduced in February 2004 under the previous PASOK government. Of the 300 seats in Parliament, 260 will be divided up among political parties and 40 seats will be automatically awarded to the party that is first past the post. The newly adopted legislation is seen as helping to offer the most popular party a stronger majority in Parliament. The new law also states that parties must have gained at least 3 percent of votes countrywide in order to have representation in Parliament. Parties that meet the 3 percent threshold receive a minimum of six parliamentary seats. Smaller-sized parties are seen as getting a boost from the new electoral law, as it can also potentially award them more seats in the event of there being no clear winner than the previous law. Voters who are unsure where they need to go in order to cast their vote can find out more information by accessing the Interior Ministry’s website (www.ypes.gr) or by calling 1564. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and will close 12 hours later. The first election results are expected to be known at around 11.30 p.m. Greeks are obligated by law to vote but senior government officials have admitted that penalties against those that do not exercise this right are no longer imposed.
