Profiles of the contenders and their leaders - Syriza, New Democracy, Golden Dawn and To Potami - in a momentous election, not only for Greece, but also for the eurozoneThe party whose name is a Greek acronym for Coalition of the Radical Left was relegated to the sidelines of politics before the explosion of the country’s debt crisis. An alliance of 11 factions – ranging form diehard Marxists, Maoists, Trotskyists, Socialists, Euro-communists and Greens - its popularity soared on the back of strident opposition to unpopular austerity measures demanded by the EU and IMF in exchange for emergency rescue funds to reinforce the insolvent Greek economy. Alexis Tsipras, its charismatic leader, wooed voters by pledging to “tear up” the bailout accords signed with creditors, reinstate laid off workers, raise the minimum wage, renationlise state assets and reduce the country’s debt – promises that, if acted on, would put Athens on a collision course with lenders and endanger its membership of the eurozone. After winning the European elections last May, he went further, warning he would light the fire of an “anti-austerity” blaze across the continent. In return Tsipras was described as an “unhelpful trouble maker” by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. In 2013 Syriza’s dissonant groups united as a single force but ideological differences still exist. As the party has edged ever closer to power, it has softened its rhetoric, with Tsipras telling German taxpayers they have nothing to fear if Syriza comes to power. Militant leftists have not been impressed. Tsipras’s biggest challenge will be controlling far-left ideologues in his party. Continue reading...
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