Alexis Tsipras was forced to call an early general election after his Syriza party took a dramatic drubbing during the European elections in May. The Socialist leader saw his popularity crash below 26 percent at the polls and the pledge to end his populist policies could secure his opponent Kyriakos Mitsotakis the top seat in Greece. Former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told ITV News Mr Tsipras committed a key “mistake” which resulted in his fall from grace.
Mr Varoufakis said: “What was a mistake is that Tsipras did not stick to the plan we had drawn up together.
“It was a good plan, it was the only plan to get out of this endless loop of austerity-bankruptcy-austerity-bankruptcy.”
President Tsipras came into power in a period of great economic crisis in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. During his Government, Greece received several loans from the European Union, including a bailout of around €86 billions (£77 billions), in return of which he would cut spending and increase VAT.
After resigning in September 2015 due to an internal rebellion, Mr Tsipras led Syriza to a second victory at the polls but his popularity has waned over time.
READ MORE: Greece news: Why Alexis Tsipras could be ousted after disastrous four years
Despite the country exiting the bailout in August 2018 and growth seemingly returning the country, the rate of youth unemployment has remained high across the country.
According to latest estimates from statistics portal Statista, unemployment among young Greek reached 39.8 percent in January 2019. The rate was the highest among European Union members states, with Italy in second place at 33 percent followed by Spain at 32.6 percent.
Sound engineer Vaggelis told the BBC he could hardly find work and is currently living on €150 (£134) each month.
The 28-years-old said: “I work five times a month, five days a month.
“Yeah, I tell you it’s hard, it’s difficult. It gets you on a mental level, it gets you on a social level.
“You can’t go outside, you can’t go to the cinema, you can’t go – I’ve missed so many lived these past years.”
Centre-right leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has been running against President Tsipras for the leadership of Greece, has pledged he was ready to “tale on this responsibility” to help “proper” the country forward.”
Hitting out at Syriza during his last speech before the Greek general election, Mr Mitsotakis said: “They came to power with lies, they governed in arrogance and with unprecedented incompetence, and they are now leaving without having fully understood why Greeks are showing them the way out.”
The New Democracy leaders, the son of a former Greek Prime Minister, also pledged to increase the minimum wage to help the country’s GDP increase.
Harris Theoharis also signalled the centre-right party would teach Europe the lessons Greece learned “the hard way.” The New Democracy politician said: “This is not going to happen again in Greece, that’s for sure. It’s time for other European countries to learn the lessons Greece learned the hard way.
“The lesson is that there is no easy solution for today’s problems. This is a difficult world that requires planning and required cooperation among other countries.”