ATHENS, Greece -- Parties fought for every last vote Saturday on the eve of the most closely contested Greek elections in decades, with supporters bending the rules against last-minute campaigning.
The frantic scramble illustrated just how tight Sunday's parliament vote is expected to be. A swing of just a few thousand votes could be enough to claim victory in the dead-heat race between the long-governing Socialists and their conservative challengers.Parties are banned from organizing rallies or distributing material on the day before the parliamentary elections. But private citizens, who are not subject to restrictions, hit the streets.
Party flags -- green for the Socialists and blue for the New Democracy opposition -- were handed out to motorists as thousands of Athenians streamed out of the capital to vote at their family hometowns in rural Greece.
Stacks of campaign literature and fliers were conveniently left at subway stops, and leaflets were tossed out of speeding cars.
Voting is compulsory in Greece, and an estimated 9 million people in this nation of 10.2 million are registered to cast their ballot.
Premier Costas Simitis' Socialists have faced a strong challenge from New Democracy leader Costas Caramanlis during the nine-week campaign.
At stake is whether the conservatives can climb back to power for only the second time since 1981.
The two men promoted similar policies in a battle for centrist voters.
Both backed economic reforms that have transformed Greece: Once a debt-burdened outsider in the European Union, Greece is now on the threshold of joining the bloc's single currency group. Also, there are no fundamental policy differences on big issues like growing immigration and improving relations with longtime regional rival Turkey.
The key to the election could rest in rural areas, particularly the struggling farmers in central and northern Greece.
The conservatives have tried to portray the Socialists as ignoring rural Greece in the drive to achieve EU-mandated fiscal goals, while the Socialists have promised to refocus on the hallmarks of their past governments, which are generous social programs and other subsidies.
Besides the two main contenders, the Greek Communist Party and two smaller leftist blocs are expected to reach the minimum 3 percent of the vote to gain parliament seats.