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Greek PM urges electorate to choose "responsible leadership" ahead of polls

Xinhua, January 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Greece must not miss out on European economic growth by making a wrong choice in Sunday's general elections, Greek prime minister and leader of the conservative New Democracy party Antonis Samaras said on Friday in his final campaign speech in Athens.

The main opposition party, Radical Left or SYRIZA, holds a lead in all the latest opinion surveys. Nonetheless, Samaras made a last-ditch effort on Friday evening to convince Greek voters to opt for "responsible leadership" which would save Greece from new crises, as the country was exiting a painful five-year debt crisis which brought the Baltic country close to financial meltdown.

"We all welcomed Thursday's historic decision for the European Union. Europe moves forward to growth. Greece should not be left behind," the Samaras said about the launch of European Central Bank's (ECB) quantitative easing program when addressing a party rally.

Greece will not be able to take part in the program until July and only under certain conditions, starting with the finalizing of an agreement with international creditors on the terms for post-bailout collaboration.

SYRIZA advocates the end of austerity and relevant talks with troika auditors, calling for a restructuring of Greece's sovereign debt to make it sustainable, an idea which has caused reactions among lenders and concern over a rift which could revive the specter of a Grexit from the eurozone.

"While it is raining money in Europe, some people are opening umbrellas," Samaras stressed on Friday.

The Greek leader assured the Greek electorate that if his party won the Jan. 25 elections, a stable government would be in place within days to put an end to the uncertainty of recent weeks.

He claimed that if SYRIZA, on the other hand, took the reins, "Europe will turn against Greece."

Responding to SYRIZA's criticism that the ruling party fuelled "unfounded fears" in order to attract voters, Samaras said he felt it was his duty to warn Greeks what was at stake at this crucial crossroads and that SYRIZA was "undermining Greece's future" with its "reckless" agenda. Endit