Preparing for elections in Greece

Preparing for elections in Greece.

As voters prepare to vote June 17th, the latest polls show a dead heat between New Democracy Party leader Antonis Samaras and SYRIZA leftist leader Alexis Tsipras.

New Democracy won the first round without a majority. Now its pro-European leader Samaras is saying this is not the time to play games with Greece's future.

(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY LEADER, ANTONIS SAMARAS, SAYING:

"We cannot play poker or dice with Greece. There is the path of responsibility, in which you are clear about what you want, and we say we want the euro and re-negotiation (of the bailout). There are others who are vague."

The head of Greece's leftist SYRIZA party, Alexis Tsipras, is appealing to voters who have had enough of austerity measures, and opposes the bailout agreed to in March.

(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) SYRIZA PARTY LEADER, ALEXIS TSIPRAS, SAYING:

"We say to Mrs. Merkel, to Mr. Hollande, and Mrs. Lagarde that you cannot continue to destroy and humiliate the Greek people."

All parties have assured the public a coalition government would be formed, either by the conservatives or the leftists, on June 18.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters