The leader of Greek
left-wing party Syriza says an end to "national humiliation" is near,
as opinion polls put the party ahead three days before the general election.
He repeated his
promise to have half of Greece's international debt written off when the
current bailout deal ends. Greece has endured deep budget cuts tied to the
massive bailout. Sunday's election is being closely watched by financial
markets which fear that a Syriza victory could lead Greece to default on its
debt and exit from the euro.
"On Monday,
national humiliation will be over. We will finish with orders from
abroad," Mr Tsipras told thousands of cheering supporters at the party's
final election rally in Athens. "We are asking for a first chance for
Syriza. It might be the last chance for Greece."
The BBC's Mark Lowen
says many Greeks are prepared to give Mr Tsipras a chance, believing life
cannot get any worse. Greece has gone through a deep recession and still has a
quarter of its workforce unemployed. However, there have been warnings that a
Syriza victory could lead to a dangerous confrontation with other eurozone
countries.
Syriza is tipped to
win but without an outright majority, and analysts say the party may struggle
to find a coalition partner. Mr Tsipras has said he will not govern with those
who support what he has called the policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Germany is seen in Greece as taking the hardest line on its debt.
Earlier this month, a
spokesman for Mrs Merkel said Germany expected Greece to uphold the terms of
its international bailout agreement. Under those terms, the EU, International
Monetary Fund and European Central Bank - the so-called troika - supported
Greece with the promise of €240bn (£188bn) in return for budget cuts and
economic reforms.
Latest polls show
Syriza widening its lead over Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's centre-right New
Democracy party. A poll to be published on Friday by Metron Analysis put
Syriza's lead over New Democracy up to 5.3 percentage points from 4.6 points.
Another poll, by Rass,
had Syriza 4.8 points in the lead. Mr Samaras will hold his final election
rally on Friday as both sides make a final push to win over undecided voters.
