Profile: Greek conservative leader Vangelis Meimarakis

Greek conservative New Democracy party leader Vangelis Meimarakis could become the country's next prime minister if his party tops Sunday's parliamentary election.

Born in Athens and with origins from Crete island, the 61- year-old lawyer graduated from law school as well as the school of political science and the public administration department of Athens University.

He joined the conservative party in 1974 and was a founding member of ONNED, the New Democracy youth organization. First elected as a member of parliament in 1989, he served as deputy minister for culture (1992-1993), and as defense minister (2006-2009).

On June 29, 2012 he became Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, a position he held until the next Parliament was elected in January 2015.

Meimarakis took over New Democracy as an interim leader when Antonis Samaras, his predecessor, resigned in July 2015.

Though the veteran conservative represents the old in the country's political life, he managed to unite his party and emerged as a real threat to Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras within a few months.

Opinion polls put it neck-and-neck between New Democracy and Syriza.

During the election campaign, Meimarakis has appeared willing to cooperate with Syriza in a wider coalition in order to avoid political instability.

He is married and has two daughters. Endit