T1 1 United States Woods, Tiger -1F  E  69 70 139

  T1 1 United States    Toms, David

The repeat of last month's inconclusive Parliamentary election comes as European Union policymakers are struggling to prevent the crisis from spreading to Spain and Italy.

" We are dealing with the serious risk that the eurozone will fall apart," said Nicholas Spiro, managing director of London-based consultancy Spiro Sovereign Strategy. " And Greece is the trigger."

The concern is that Sunday's election will play out like the last one, leaving Greece with a weak caretaker govt at a time when the nation needs clear leadership.

Note: A fruitless vote in Greece on May 6, and a fail  coalition talks infuriated Greeks and baffled outsiders.

This Sunday, they will do it all over again?.

Syriza, the radical left-wing party, came in 2nd in last election as voters skewed toward politicians who oppose more austerity. Syriza's leader, Alexis Tsipras, has threatened to renege on the terms of Greece's bailout, but he has also expressed a desire to remain in the euro currency union.

The moderate New Democracy party and the Socialist Pasok party were punished by voters for supporting the bailout program, and agreeing to the austerity measures that came with it.

There is a ban on polls this wk, but surveys taken last mth showed a tight race btw Syriza and New Democracy.

The election is being framed as a potential catalyst for Greece to exit the euro zone. But none of the main political parties is eager to see that happen, since returning to the drachma would have severe and unknowable consequences for Greece.

" No political party from the left or the right will risk taking the country out of the eurozone," said Dimitri Papadimitriou, a professor of economics at Bard College. Greece is facing a €3.9 billion bond redemption in August, which it could struggle to pay if there is still no govt in place by then.

The Greek economy is in deep decline and analysts say Athens is in danger of running out of the money it needs to pay for basic necessities, such as fuel and medical supplies.

" They clearly don't have the cash to cover basic services," said Spiro. " The country is bankrupt."

teeth53 thot: When state and or it people's  survival is at stake, bread n butter issues is most  concern to voters.