New Democracy election rally

Описание: (5 Mar 2004)
1. Wide shot of "New Democracy" supporters in a square waving party and Greek flags
2. Various of supporters waving flags in balconies
3. Pan of supporters waving greek flags
4. Wide shot of "New Democracy" leader Costas Caramanlis talking on stage screen, supporters cheering
5. Pull out of Caramanlis on screen giving speech to supporters
6. Various of supporters at rally
7. Various of Caramanlis talking on stage
8. Various of supporters waving flags
9. Wide shot of square
10. Various of rally
11. Wide shot of fireworks

STORYLINE:

Greek conservative leader Costas Caramanlis ended his pre-election campaign on Thursday with a mass rally in central Athens, ahead of the parliamentary elections on Sunday for the Parliament's 300 seats.

His main rival is the new Socialist leader, George Papandreou, a popular 51-year-old former foreign minister who has been trying to capitalise on what he has billed as the economic successes of his predecessor, outgoing Premier Costas Simitis.

They are rivals with much in common: both come from famous Greek political families and talk about ways to remold the country in the image of richer and more dynamic European Union partners.

Voters must decide on Sunday whether to return the opposition conservatives to power for the first time in a decade or hand the Socialists an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office.

Both parties are neck-and-neck and spent the final days before parliament elections hunting for every possible vote.

Caramanlis has stuck to past promises of smaller government, less bureaucracy and fewer taxes.

He has provided detailed proposals on how he plans to raise funds for social programmes by trimming Greece's bloated public sector and privatising state companies and banks.

The most recent opinion polls showed Caramanlis holding a steady 3.5 percentage point advantage over Papandreou.

Victory would bring New Democracy to power for the first time since 1993 and signal another snub in Europe for established socialist governments.

With the 2004 Olympics only five months away, much is at stake for the winner.

There are mounting worries that numerous Olympic projects, including a roof for the showcase Olympic stadium, may not be finished in time.

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