31 August 2015 | 16:43

Tsipras asks Greeks for outright majority in September vote

Greece's ex-prime minister Alexis Tsipras called Sunday for voters in upcoming snap elections to give his radical left Syriza party a "strong mandate" to lead the crisis-hit nation, AFP reports.

Tsipras, who rode to power in January on a wave of popular anger over austerity, is seeking re-election in September 20 polls to implement more painful reforms demanded under a new 86-billion-euro ($96-billion) international rescue package.

"We are seeking a strong mandate, an absolute majority for the Syriza government" for the next four years, he said in an interview with Realnews.

Tsipras said it was time to exit the two-party paradigm that has seen Greece alternate between the conservative opposition New Democracy party and the Pasok socialist party for the past four decades.

"It's crucial to not take a step back but to move forward," he added.

But Greek pollsters give Syriza a lead of only between one and three and a half points over its chief adversary New Democracy, making an absolute majority unlikely.

If the polls are borne out, Tsipras would have to form a coalition government.

Only one poll, carried out by the Bridging Europe think tank, gives the party a clear advantage of eight points.

Tsipras has ruled out forming a national unity government should he fail to win a outright majority, saying he could not work with New Democracy, Pasok or the centre-right Potami.

He stepped down on August 20 and called for a fresh vote -- the fifth in the country in six years -- after suffering a major rebellion in his hard-left party over Greece's huge new international bailout.

Not sorry

Dozens of Syriza lawmakers rejected Tsipras' decision to accept further austerity measures to prevent Greece crashing out of the eurozone, accusing him of capitulating to creditors' "blackmail".

When Tsipras was asked during the Realnews interview why he has not apologised to the Greek people for changing his stance on austerity he replied "Why should I ask their forgiveness?"

"I fought with all my heart to remain faithful to the mandate given by the Greek people," who wanted to stay in the eurozone, he said.

The past eight months since Syriza came to power have been a rollercoaster ride for the troubled Greek economy.

After talks broke down in June between Athens and international lenders, and Greeks rejected creditors' tough bailout terms in a referendum, the European Central Bank restricted its assistance to Greek banks, forcing the government to shut them down and impose capital controls to avert a run on deposits.

Tsipras has said he does not believe in the deal he finally struck with creditors, but saw it as the only way of keeping his country in the single currency.

Syriza's election programme calls for restructuring in the agricultural sector, reinforcement of the banking system, job protection and a stepped-up battle against corruption.

It is also seeking a restructuring of the country's mountain of debt, which amounts to some 170 percent of gross national product.

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