Parties scan country ahead of showdown

With less than two months to go before the European Parliament elections on June 9, the campaign has entered a crucial phase with tours by political leaders and party committees being a key element.

In Attica, where almost half of the country's population is concentrated, a major battle will be fought, as ruling New Democracy seeks to maintain its dominance, while main opposition parties SYRIZA and PASOK aim to strengthen their presence in this region and the other major urban centers, in their battle for second place. Crete is also an arena of great conflict between SYRIZA and PASOK. Leftist SYRIZA is seeking to regain the voters it lost in the previous elections, while socialist PASOK is intent on consolidating its strength, after coming second in three of the island's four constituencies last June.

The electoral battle in northern Greece is of great interest to all...