Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-08-20

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Alavanos: 'Major political battles between us and ND'

[01] Alavanos: 'Major political battles between us and ND'

The decision comes after his announcement that he will also vie for a deputy's seat in Irakleio, Crete - leaders of recognised political parties have the right to list their names on ballots in two separate election districts - another area where Synaspismos has not generated noteworthy support in past elections.

In explaining his decision during a press conference in Serres - the ancestral home of the Karamanlis political family -- Alavanos said his presence on the ballots in both Serres and Irakleio is an effort to better highlight the provinces as well as Synaspismos' presence, both in quality and quantity, in the specific regions.

Meanwhile, asked about the recent and more-or-less expected surge in sharp political exchanges between the premier and the main opposition PASOK leader, Alavanos responded that "elections are not beauty pageants. The major battles on political issues were between (ruling) ND and Synaspismos".

He also charged that opinion poll firms are exercising an inordinately large influence on the country's political landscape, and at the same erring in ignoring the left and "seeing only PASOK" as a rival to the ND government. Along those lines, he said PM Costas Karamanlis' decision to declare snap elections for Sept. 16 was influenced by such opinion poll results.

Finally, he said that Synaspismos will ignore attacks by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) against it.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Alavanos.

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