Greece votes in crucial election

Greece just got through to the next round of the Euro's but they might be getting knocked out of the Euro currency by tomorrow...The irony

Greek football fans - some in costume - were cheering a win at Euro 2012 but there is little enthusiasm for another election

The polls have opened in Greece for crucial elections which could determine the country's future in the eurozone.

The main contenders, the right-wing New Democracy and left-wing Syriza, are at odds over whether broadly to stick with the tough EU bailout deal, or reject it and boost social spending.

Opinion polls are banned for two weeks before voting but unofficial polls say the result is too close to call.

EU leaders say if Greece rejects the bailout, it may have to leave the euro.

The poll, the second in six weeks, was called after a vote on 6 May proved inconclusive.

Sunday's vote is being watched around the world, amid fears that a Greek exit from the euro could spread contagion to other eurozone members and send turmoil throughout the global economy.

Tough austerity measures were attached to the two international bailouts awarded to Greece, an initial package worth 110bn euros (£89bn; $138bn) in 2010, then a follow-up last year worth 130bn euros.

Brussels warned

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Greece's key players

Antonis Samaras, leader of centre-right New Democracy (L)

• Born 1951

• US-educated economist

• Greek foreign minister in early 1990s

• Opposed the first Greek bailout in 2010 but later backed the second rescue package

Alexis Tsipras, leader of radical left Syriza (R)

Born 1974

Contested Athens mayoral election in 2006

Rejects the terms of the EU/IMF bailout of Greece

Wants to keep Greece in the euro

Profile: Antonis Samaras

Profile: Alexis Tsipras

Many Greeks are unhappy with the conditions attached to deals which have been keeping Greece from bankruptcy and all but one of the parties standing for election have promised some degree of renegotiation of the terms.

In remarks quoted by the Reuters news agency a few hours before polls opened, the head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Angel Gurria suggested that the next Greek government should be given a chance to revisit the bailout conditions.

"If that is the condition presented for Greece to stay [in the eurozone] and then move on, I would say it is probably something that should be attempted," he was quoted as saying.

But Germany, which has the eurozone's most powerful economy, insists Greece, like other member states which have received international bailouts, must abide by the austerity conditions.

On the eve of the vote, Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "It is extremely important that tomorrow's Greek elections lead to a result in which those who form the government say, 'Yes, we want to keep to our commitments.'"

Like Mr Gurria, the German chancellor and several other European leaders will be attending the G20 summit in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos on Monday, which is set to be dominated by the eurozone crisis and the aftermath of the election.

The head of New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, told supporters on Friday that he would lead the country out of the financial crisis, while staying in the eurozone.

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Sunday's vote

Voting begins 04:00 GMT (07:00 local time)

Voting ends 16:00 GMT with exit polls released immediately afterwards

First official results expected after 18:30 GMT

Q&A: Greek parliamentary election

He broadly accepts Greece's international bailout, but says he will renegotiate the terms of the agreement to seek a better deal for Greeks.

"We will exit the crisis; we will not exit the euro. We will not let anyone take us out of Europe," Mr Samaras said.

The youthful head of Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, rejects the bailout, but wants Greece to stay in the eurozone, saying a bailout is possible without the kind of drastic cuts demanded of Greece.

"Brussels expect us, we are coming on Monday to negotiate over people's rights, to cancel the bailout," he told a final rally on Thursday.

National pride

Greeks were celebrating hours before the polls opened, after their national football team qualified for the quarter finals of Euro 2012 with a surprise 1-0 win over Russia.

"We are proud that we gave the people back home some joy and a break from their problems - even for a short while," striker Georgios Samaras said.

The Kathimerini website noted that Greeks had few reasons to feel national pride at the moment, but sport had provided them with plenty of it. The victory could lead to a quarter-final tie against Germany.

Greek bailout: Where the parties stand

Party Stance on bailout Share of vote May

Pro-bailout parties

New Democracy

Keep bailout but more time for restructuring and EU help to stimulate growth

19%

Socialist (Pasok)

Keep bailout but subject it to a "structured and courageous revision"; implement fiscal adjustment over three years, not two

13%

Anti-bailout parties

Syriza

Cancel bailout, nationalise banks and freeze privatisations, but stay inside eurozone

17%

Independent Greeks

Reject bailout but remain in eurozone

11%

Democratic Left

Gradually disengage from bailout but stay in eurozone

6%

Communist (KKE)

Unilaterally cancel debt, leave the EU and restore Greece's own currency

9%

Golden Dawn

Tear up the bailout but not necessarily abandon the euro

7%