Two televised election debates in run up to October polls

The major Greek parties have agreed to hold two televised debates in the run up to the Greek elections.

One debate will involve Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou and the second debate will bring together representatives of all five parties represented in Parliament.

The much awaited face-off between Karamanlis and Papandreou is to be preceded by the panel of representatives, though no dates were set for the two debates.

It remained unclear who would represent the deeply divided Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), which is heading into the forthcoming elections without a leader.

Both Karamanlis and Papandreou are said to have welcomed the prospect of the debates. Indeed, sources revealed that Karamanlis was interested in two face-to-face exchanges with Papandreou.

Both the New Democracy and PASOK camps reportedly believe that the face-to-face debate will reveal the weaknesses of the other side.

Among the ranks of New Democracy there is a conviction that the exchange between Karamanlis and Papandreou will highlight holes in PASOK’s economic policy proposals.

The PASOK camp, meanwhile, is reportedly convinced that a head-to-head between the leaders of the two main parties will highlight the failures of the ruling party and its responsibility for current economic and social problems.