Polling stations have opened in Greece for the second round of general elections in five weeks.
Former prime minister and leader of Nea Dimokratia, Kyriakos Mitsotakis hopes to win by obtaining an absolute majority to form a "stable government".
He is opposed by the leader of the left-wing Syriza party, Alexis Tsipras , who has promised to fight "until the last second" despite the bitter defeat suffered by his side in the elections held on May 21st. Polling stations opened at 7 local time (6 in Italy), while the first exit polls are expected at 7 pm (6 in Italy), when the polls close.
A big favorite in the polls, Mitsotakis, head of government from 2019 until the end of May, won a landslide victory 5 weeks ago, with 40.8% of the votes, double Syriza. But this lead, which surprised analysts, did not give him the absolute majority needed to form a government without having to form an alliance. The former prime minister, however, immediately ruled out this possibility by asking for new elections. The latest polls give the right this time between 37.8% and 45% of voting intentions.
(Unioneonline/lf)