The Athens mayoralty – along with the Attica region – is the top prize in Sunday’s nationwide municipal and regional elections, as it is considered a key battle ground in the fight between ruling New Democracy and main opposition Syriza, but also a test of the support for the country’s centre-left political forces, which are mainly represented by incumbent Giorgos Kaminis, who is running for re-election without any official party support.
For Syriza, who chose the young, little known economist Gavriil Sakellaridis to run as its candidate, one of the greatest advantages is the split in the conservative vote, as ruling New Democracy MP and former mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis is running against the official party candidate Aris Spiliotopoulos.
For extreme right Golden Dawn, which is running parliamentary representative and spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris as its candidate, the contest is the crucial first test of the party’s electoral strength after its prosecution as a criminal organisation was launched last autumn.
Most of the municipal and regional electoral battles are not expected to be determined before the second round on May 25, a day when Greeks are also electing their representatives for the European Parliament.
Source: enetenglish