Greeks vote in high-stake local elections

GREEK: Local polls in Greece Sunday could trigger national elections in one of Europe’s most economically troubled countries if they fail to give Prime Minister George Papandreou support for austerity measures.

Papandreou has said he would dissolve parliament if he does not receive a fresh mandate for more budget cuts and structural reforms agreed in May under a 110-billion euro EU/IMF bailout.

“I am not glued to my post. I am only interested in fighting for my country ... It’s up to the citizens to decide whom they trust to govern the country,” he told Ethnos newspaper in an interview.

“Citizens will decide in today’s election if we will hold steady on the path of salvation ... or if we will go back to decay and to the Greece of bankruptcy,” he added. Papandreou told the daily Ta Nea on Saturday his decision would be based largely on how his candidates perform in the first round of elections in 13 newly created regions.

He has not set a specific threshold for the support he requires, allowing ample room to manoeuvre in deciding whether to call a snap poll.

Athens, Reuters