Greece's anti-bailout parties hopeful in poll

2012-05-06 4

(ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Leaders of Greece's anti-bailout parties voted on Sunday (May 6) in an election where no clear winner is expected due to support for the two main parties being sapped by the smaller ones.

After casting his ballot, leader of the Democratic Left party Fotis Kouvelis said Greece needs to remain alive and the people need to stand on their feet.

Greece's youngest political leader, Alexis Tsipras, is seeking a united left front that will call time on the harsh austerity that comes with an international bailout keeping Athens afloat.

He calls the ultimatum thrown down by mainstream parties, bailout or bust, a scare tactic to force people to accept painful cuts in pay and pensions.

These smaller parties are expected to well as disenchantment mounts in Greece with a series of harsh austerity measures meant to save the country from bankruptcy.