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Greek Left Has Most Support But is Fragmented By Kerin Hope in Athens Financial Times February 14, 2012 http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e409bf80-5733-11e1-be25-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1mUqJpHNf With his stylish haircut, sharp suits and BMW motorbike parked outside parliament, Alexis Tsipras cuts an striking figure in Greek politics. His defiant message underscores the reservations of Greece's triple-A rated eurozone creditors, who on Tuesday night postponed signing off on the new bail- out, fearing it would only be derailed, like its predecessor, by the country's fractious politicians and mounting social unrest. Television footage of blazing buildings in the centre of Athens, set on fire by extremists on Sunday night, served to highlight the growing instability the country faced after four straight years of recession amounting to a cumulative contraction of 14 per cent of output. Greece has already announced a snap general election in April to pick a government that will implement a tough medium-term austerity programme demanded by its creditors, aiming at restoring modest growth by the end of 2013. The conservative New Democracy party under Antonis Samaras is the frontrunner, according to opinion polls, though with voter support at about only 30-33 per cent it would fail to win an outright majority. The new government is, therefore, likely to unite the country's two main political forces, New Democracy and the pro-reform remnants of the PanHellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok), which is undergoing wrenching change after 18 months of failing in government to pull the country back from the brink of default. "There is a potential coalition of the old-established parties," says Loukas Tsoukalis, head of Eliamep, an Athens think-tank. "It follows a growing realisation among voters of what is at stake." Mr Samaras, previously a harsh critic of policies imposed by the European Union and International Monetary Fund, is expected to sign up to the bail-out after making a policy U-turn in recent weeks. He backed the new austerity programme in Sunday's parliamentary vote, then expelled from the party 21 conservative lawmakers who broke ranks and joined leftwing deputies opposed to the new package. Twenty socialist deputies also voted against reform and were summarily ejected from Pasok by former premier George Papandreou. The protest vote will also be strong at an election, with Greeks expected to register their anger at soaring unemployment and new taxes either by abstaining or by backing formerly marginal parties. Opinion polls show combined backing for the Democratic Left, the Greek Communist party (KKE) and Syriza at 42 per cent - well ahead of any single party. But the three groups are too deeply divided by ideology and personal rivalries to consider teaming up in a coalition government, according to analysts. Despite Mr Tsipras's high profile, Syriza remains the smallest of the leftwing parties, partly reflecting concerns over its alleged ties with extremist leftwing groups accused of inciting violence against political opponents. The Socialists have taken the biggest hit according to polls, with Pasok currently in fifth place with 8-10 per cent. Yet analysts suggest they could double their support once the battle is over to succeed Mr Papandreou, who has already said he will stand down as leader. Evangelos Venizelos, the finance minister who has overseen Greece's contribution to the adjustment programme, is poised to take over after rallying a group of pro-European reformers, including several possible leadership rivals, behind him. "We could see Pasok recovering to win 18 to 20 per cent at the election," Mr Tsoukalis said. "We have seen opinion polls in the past showing a strong protest vote for the left - but then people return at the actual election." Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2012 ___________________________________________ Portside aims to provide material of interest to people on the left that will help them to interpret the world and to change it. Submit via email: [log in to unmask] Submit via the Web: http://portside.org/submittous3 Frequently asked questions: http://portside.org/faq Sub/Unsub: http://portside.org/subscribe-and-unsubscribe Search Portside archives: http://portside.org/archive Contribute to Portside: https://portside.org/donate