GREECE: Locals hit the beach after casting a "vote of punishment" for the two main pro-bailout parties

Record ID: 327760

  • Title: GREECE: Locals hit the beach after casting a "vote of punishment" for the two main pro-bailout parties
  • Date: 7th May 2012
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (MAY 6 2012) (REUTERS) UMBRELLAS IN THE BEACH VARIOUS PEOPLE ON BEACH FRONT AND IN SEA
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA12947LI1F2O2KBVP313UHGJNJ
  • Story Text: Beach-loving Athenians flocked the city beaches on Sunday (May 6) on an unseasonably hot day to chill off in refreshing sea and try and take their mind off the crucial choices Greece had to make in the general parliamentary polls.
    The socialist PASOK and conservative New Democracy parties, which have been in coalition since last November, are both expected to suffer an electoral setback because of the austerity measures agreed by the government in return for international bailout funds.
    Many Greeks who saw their salaries and pensions reduced by up to 40 percent in the last two years are set to punish the two major parties.
    "For me, it was a vote of both punishment and hope. I think punishment and hope go hand in hand in this election," said 63-year-old Vasilis Kiritsakis who, like most pensioners in Greece, saw his pension slashed as part of government's austerity reforms.
    Opinion polls indicate voters hit by record unemployment, collapsing businesses and steep wage cuts will return an unprecedented number of small parties from across political spectrum who opposed to austerity.
    "I will vote not to give my support to the policies that I have been against for all these years. I will vote in favour of small parties who made good, strong points, to help them get into parliament and make a strong opposition," said 42-year doctor Argyro Tringa.
    But 48-year-old dentist Andreas Kolokouris said, although he was still voting to protest against the two large parties, he would still choose one of the smaller pro-bailout parties running in the elections, although it was not clear if these parties would make it to parliament.
    "I am very optimistic, I believe we should vote for small pro-bailout parties and I think that everything will turn out well. It was a vote of protest and a vote to move things in a new direction," Kolokouris.
    No single party is expected to gain a majority.
    The ability of any new government to carry on with the austerity programme will be crucial for Greece's continued access to bailout funds from the Troika - the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
    Any political instability may raise new questions over the country's place in the euro.
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