Greek Election Could Decide Future in Eurozone

June 17, 2012

The Greeks are getting well practiced at this. For the second time in six weeks, Sunday morning in Athens involves a journey to the voting booth.

It’s mid morning and Papagou, a well-off suburb near the center of the city. The ministry of defense is nearby. The mindset here tends to be conservative, resistant to change. Many are pensioners.

This two election observers from the Communist party admit their views are a hard sell in this neighborhood.

Most people say they are voting for the main center-right party, New Democracy, even though it governed Greece in the years before the financial crisis.

This three voters all give the same reason.

“I think it is the best chance to stay in the euro which I think is the only course we have to go on now," said Thannos.

“They guarantee the existence of Greece within the eurozone, which is the most important thing today," said Anna.

“With the left, we are going to crash immediately, or within the next couple of months," said Apostolos.

A couple of kilometers away from some of the wealthier suburbs, in the central district of Archanon, and there’s a different atmosphere. There is higher unemployment, and many voters are concerned about illegal immigration, and its links to violent crime. And they are prepared for a break with the past.