Voters in Greece are going about a familiar task today: it's the third time in a year they've cast ballots – the second time to decide a government and once for a referendum on a bailout plan for an economy that seems to teeter perpetually on the verge of default.
Today, they must decide whether to retain the leftist Syriza party, which swept to power in January on a pledge to dismantle austerity measures imposed by the terms of the European Union rescue.
But the party reluctantly approved the latest $96 billion euro deal despite a referendum vote against it – a move seen by many Greeks as a sellout.
The alternative is to the conservative New Democracy, led by Vangelis Meimarakis, who promised that if his party is voted in it would banish "greyness, falsehoods and misery... and bring in authentic people for a better tomorrow for all Greeks."
But turnout appears to be low amid a sense of disillusionment at the prospects.
"What we are hoping for is for the less useless (politician) so he does the least damage to Greece," 77-year-old Yiannis told Reuters outside a polling station in Athens.
Reuters notes:
"Although the two big parties are close, a slight edge is important since the Greek system gives 50 extra seats in the 300-seat house to the party that places first, as a way to encourage stronger governments. "Nevertheless opinion polls suggest neither Syriza nor New Democracy would secure the 38 percent or so that should offer a majority of seats."
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