Greek poll: Cliffhanger predicted
ATHENS, Greece -- Greeks have been voting in crucial parliamentary elections predicted to be a cliffhanger between the long-governing Socialists and the conservatives.
The two rivals for the post of prime minister have the famous names of Greek political dynasties. And among the issues to be decided -- who will take over Athens' troubled Olympic preparations.
Interior Minister Nikos Alevizatos reported Sunday that "voting is going on without problems" around Greece.
The minister, a nonpartisan appointee for the elections, said thousands of polling stations -- nearly all inside schools -- opened normally.
In cold but fine weather, from far-flung islands to the narrow streets under the Acropolis, citizens voted in what was expected to be a very tight contest.
Said CNN's Senior International Correspondent Walter Rodgers: "This is a terribly closely contested election in a very tough campaign."
Voting is compulsory in Greece, which has a population of 11 million. There are nearly 10 million registered voters, a large number attributed to an aging population and many Greeks living abroad.
First indications of a winner are expected with the release of exit polls when voting ends at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).
The main choice is between the inheritors of two family dynasties that have dominated modern Greek politics. On the right is New Democracy conservative leader Costas Karamanlis, 47, nephew of a former prime minister who led Greece out of military dictatorship.
On the left is Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou, 52, grandson and son of former prime ministers, who is bidding to win the party's fourth consecutive election since 1993.
The winner will be the first Greek head of government born after World War two and the bitter 1946-49 civil war between conservatives and communists that followed.
The last opinion polls, published two weeks ago, showed the conservatives heading for victory with a lead of up to five percent.
But since then political analysts believe the gap has narrowed dramatically, with New Democracy perhaps just one or two points ahead.
Papandreou was the more upbeat when the two leaders voted on Sunday morning.
"I am very optimistic. The messages from all over Greece are positive. We are going for a very optimistic result. It is the day of the citizens," he told reporters when he voted in Larisa, a farming community about 250 km (150 miles) north of Athens.
Karamanlis, voting in Greece's second largest city of Thessaloniki in the north, said: "Today we decide on our future. I have full confidence in the judgment of the people."
Some analysts saw a rerun of the 2000 election when New Democracy supporters were on the streets celebrating early exit polls showing they had won only to see the Socialists win by just 1 percent.
The winner will immediately face huge tasks: completing the badly delayed projects for the August 13-29 Olympics and making sure the $800 million security network keeps pace with possible threats.
The Socialists have governed Greece since 1981 except for a three-year break in 1990-1993, when New Democracy was in power. But the Socialists have been beset by widespread perceptions of corruption, patronage and an inability to rein in Greece's huge bureaucracy.
Greeks also complain of rising prices and a declining standard of living since the country adopted the euro two years ago.
Much of Papandreou's popularity rests on his success at improving once-hostile relations with neighboring Turkey and his famous name. His father, the late Premier Andreas Papandreou, founded the party three decades ago and built it into a powerhouse by doling out civil service jobs and appealing to Greek insecurities -- especially toward U.S. policies in the region.
Karamanlis also is the scion of a Greek political dynasty. New Democracy was founded in 1974 by his uncle and namesake, former premier and president Constantine Karamanlis.
He also sticks to promises of smaller government, less bureaucracy and fewer taxes. Karamanlis has also pledged more funds for social welfare, education and health.
Each side has criticized the other for the Olympic construction delays. With the Summer Games only five months away, there are worries that many projects -- including a roof for the main Olympic stadium and a key transportation link -- may not be finished in time.
Copyright 2004 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
