Greek right warns against ‘catastrophe’

Greek conservative party New Democracy yesterday formally launched its campaign for the June 17 election, warning a victory for the radical left would cause “catastrophe” and lead Greece out of the euro.

New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras laid into the radical left party Syriza, which has threatened to tear up a deal with international lenders that rescued Greecefrom bankruptcy.

“Everyone, centre-right, centre-left and green, whether they agree or not on the policies up to now on the loan agreement, all warn that opposing the loan agreement will lead Greece out of the euro,” Samaras told supporters at a televised party rally in Athens.

“That of course will be painful for the rest of Europe, but it will mean the end, absolute catastrophe for Greece,” said Samaras, whose party finished first during the May polls.

Latest opinion polls however show Syriza under its populist leader Antonis Tsipras, 37, could come on top in the next election after finishing second in aninconclusive vote on May 6.

Tsipras has said Greece could reject the bailout yet still stay inthe euro.

New Democracy, which is part of the previous ruling coalition that signed on to the bailout deal has said it will seek to renegotiate parts of the package, underwhich it receives hundreds ofbillions of euros from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

However it would not seek to scrap it outright as Syrizahas threatened.

Samaras warned that breaking the terms of the deal wouldforce it to return to thedrachma, devaluing savings,driving up prices and loweringliving standards.

“There is no society, no economy and no democracy that can tolerate such a sudden collapse,” he said in a speech greeted by loud applause from supporters.

“If Greece terminates the loan agreement, it will remain isolated for many years. It will not have food, medicine, or fuel and will live in a constant blackout.”