Poll shows SYRIZA in face-off against ND As Greece’s political parties prepare for the second election campaign in as many months, rallying their cadres and forging alliances, a new opinion poll carried out for Kathimerini and Skai by Public Issue suggests that the elections will see the ascendant Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) in a face-off against conservative New Democracy. According to the survey, SYRIZA, which came in second in the May 6 polls after campaigning on an anti-bailout platform, would garner 28 percent in elections next month, while ND, which co-signed Greece’s debt deal with socialist PASOK but has long pushed for a renegotiation of the terms of the agreement, would get 24 percent. PASOK would come in third with 15 percent, according to the poll, which was carried out last week. The Independent Greeks, a right-wing anti-bailout party, would garner 8 percent, the Democratic Left, a pro-European but anti-austerity party, would get 7 percent, while the Communist Party would only amass 5 percent, half a percentage point ahead of Chrysi Avgi. Other opinion polls put ND ahead of SYRIZA, which are expected to clash hard in this election campaign. SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, who Monday starts a two-day visit to Paris and Berlin, insisted Sunday that his party’s opposition to Greece’s debt deal would not mean a eurozone exit, accusing foreign creditors of trying to “terrorize the Greek people.” ND leader Antonis Samaras, who has accused Tsipras of making empty promises, on Saturday proposed a televised debate with the leftist leader. The proposal was relayed by ND spokesman Yiannis Michelakis on Vima FM radio. Sources in SYRIZA’s camp indicated Tsipras would be open to a debate though it remained unclear what form it would take. Caretaker Prime Minister Panayiotis Pikrammenos was to meet Monday with all political leaders bar Tsipras, who is traveling.

ekathimerini.com , Sunday May 20, 2012 (22:18)