Greece: Alexis Tsipras eyes shaky comeback in polls

By Furkan Naci Top

ATHENS (AA) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is eyeing a shaky comeback in Sunday's snap polls despite recent opinion polls that show New Democracy Party (ND) ahead of his leading Syriza party.

In June, Tsipras requested the dissolution of parliament and snap polls following his left-wing Syriza party’s poor performance in European Union elections held on May 26, where his party finished second, runner-up to the conservative New Democracy party.

Polls show Tsipras losing to the ND with an 8-11 point difference.

Parties who pass the 3% election threshold will make it to the parliament.

The economic situation in Greece as well as the name agreement with North Macedonia put Tsipra's party in a difficult situation in the country.

Last June, then Macedonia agreed to change its name in line with a deal under which Greece dropped its objection to North Macedonia joining NATO and the EU.

The name issue has kept Macedonia from joining the EU and NATO since its independence in 1991.

Tsipras, who played the main role in the name agreement issue, received praise from Western leaders, but faced criticism at home especially from conservative groups in the country.

Ruling Syriza and Potami parties backed the vote while main opposition ND party and Independent Greeks (ANEL) voted against it. The measure was accepted by a 153-140 vote.

Opposition ND party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed the Greek nation was against the decision and the approving of the protocol was a "national defeat".

Tsipras, who was seen gathering masses in squares and addressing big crowds during his first campaign, now seems to pursue a campaign away from all the action.

Tsipras can be seen giving television interviews, as well as in advertisements and public meetings.

He frequently recalls in his speech that the ND was in power during the economic crisis and difficult years of the country, asking voters for a chance to govern it "without hands tied".

His party stormed to power in 2015 after Greece buckled under painful economic reforms and austerity measures, forcing it to sign for more than €260 billion in rescue funds from the eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev