Following are the main parties running in Sunday’s general election in Greece:
Syriza, leftist
Leader: Alexis Tsipras, 41
During Tsipras’ negotiations with the country’s international creditors, Greece reached the brink of bankruptcy. In July, Tsipras called a referendum on a bailout offer. The vote returned a resounding “no” to austerity but Tsipras finally capitulated to the tough terms of a third bailout deal to keep Greece in the euro zone. The bailout passed by parliament but was rejected by 44 Syriza lawmakers, forcing Tsipras to resign a few days later and call a snap election.
New Democracy, conservative
Leader: Vangelis Meimarakis, 61
In 2012, under then-leader Antonis Samaras, it formed a coalition government that ruled until he failed to get parliament to approve his choice for president leading the country to snap elections. Under its interim leader Meimarakis, the party has managed to catch up with Syriza and the two parties are running neck-and-neck in opinion polls.
Golden Dawn, far-right
Leader: Nikos Mihaloliakos, 57
The party, which has most support among Greek youth angered by Syriza’s bailout U-turn, is in a race for third place in Sunday’s election with centrist to Potami, Pasok and the Communist KKE.
KKE, communist
Leader: Dimitris Koutsoumbas, 60
The anti-bailout party blames both Syriza and New Democracy for committing to unpopular reforms, pension cuts and tax hikes. It won 5.47% in January and 13 seats in parliament.
To Potami, centrist
Leader: Stavros Theodorakis, 52
The centrist To Potami - or “River” - party entered parliament in January with 6% of the vote. It supported the country’s third bailout in August. Potami hopes to play kingmaker role as a pro-euro ally for either Syriza or New Democracy.
Pasok, socialist
Leader: Fofi Gennimata, 50
Pasok participated in the coalition led by New Democracy that ruled from June 2012 to January 2015. Its voters gradually abandoned it during the crisis, mainly because it supported the country’s first two bailouts, and has seen its ratings dropping to 4%-6%. Its leader Fofi Genimata formed an alliance with the small center-left Dimar party in the run-up to Sunday’s election.
Independent Greeks
Leader: Panos Kammenos, 50
The right-wing party often attacked the country’s lenders for the austerity measures they have imposed. The Independent Greeks got 13 seats with 4.75% of the votes in January’s elections and became Syriza’s coalition partner. It is polling around 3%, the lower threshold for parliamentary representation.
Union of Centrists
Leader: Vassilis Leventis 63
The centrist party has gained a following by railing against an establishment it says has ‘poisoned’ Greece. Polls show it will win about 3.5%-4% of the vote.
Popular Unity, radical left
Leader: Papagiotis Lafazanis 63
The party has been set up by Lafazanis, a vocal critic of the third bailout programme, and 25 lawmakers that broke away from Syriza in August. It is polling around 3%.