Main rivals fight to win floating vote

Date: 19/09/1996

By Rory Watson

THIS weekend's general election could prove a watershed in Greek politics and in the country's relationship with the European Union.

Greek Premier Costas Simitis called the snap election confident that his Panhellenic Socialist movement (Pasok) would be swept back into power.

But polls indicate that Pasok and its main opponent, New Democracy, are running neck and neck with around 30&percent; of the vote each. Victory will depend on which can win the support of the 50&percent; of the electorate who say they have no interest in the outcome and the 20&percent; who intend to vote for small parties at both extremes of the political spectrum.

If Simitis' gamble succeeds, it will signal the decline of the demagoguery which has characterised Greek politics for the past two decades. More significantly, it will consolidate the moderate pro-EU stance which Simitis has followed since he took over as prime minister in January.

Pasok's leader is determined - without committing himself to dates - that Greece should participate in a single currency, and is prepared to take the unpopular measures needed to satisfy that ambition.

His government, which includes former Greek Commissioner Vasso Papandreou, is noticably more sympathetic to the EU than its predecessor and is likely to become even more so in the event of an electoral victory.

A Pasok victory would also be accompanied by moves to inject some of the Union's buzz-words - transparency and openness - into Greece's own administrative and political worlds.

But New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert has waged a less cautious campaign, pledging to increase pensions and offering other costly promises. If successful, Evert would soon face an uncomfortable choice between honouring those pledges and showing the discipline needed to prepare for the single currency.