Caramanlis plays loser takes all

"I may have failed, but vote for me again." On 2 September, Greece's Prime Minister called for early elections. Ta Neais struck by the irony of the simultaneous announcement of the Prime Minister's departure and his bid for reelection. Weakened by a series of scandals and stung by criticism of his handling of the recent forest fires, Costas Caramanlis claims the early elections will give him the necessary political credibility to push through tough measures needed to tackle the economic crisis, which has severely affected the country. The left-wing daily voices its support for the socialist opposition, which has been tipped to win the vote, which will probably be scheduled for 4 October, and scornfully upbraids Caramalis, who has been in power since 2004, for his "ludicrous demand" to be re-elected to a post he already occupies.