Who are the Independent Greeks?

The party Independent Greeks (AN.EL.) was born in February 2012, a splinter group of the majority right New Democracy party of outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

It was founded by Panos Kammenos, 49, former Minister of Marine Antonis Samaras.

This new party, very strong right is left with Syriza on criticism of European austerity policies. During his last campaign rally, Panos Kammenos stated:

"We never put on his knees as beggars in front of [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel. We keep ourselves as standing always do the Greeks. "Unlike the centrist party To Potami, whose speech is much more pro-European AN.EL. want to erase much of the Greek debt, which amounts to 175% of gross domestic product. From a tax point of view, the party wants to reduce the highest tax brackets and provide tax incentives to attract investors.

On social issues, the party Independent Greeks, sovereignty and assumed conservative, is in stark contrast to his new ally: he wants including limiting illegal immigration and defends the close ties between the Orthodox Church and the state. Panos Kammenos has also been accused of anti-Semitism after said last month that the Jews were paying less tax than the rest of the population.

Syriza turned to the Independent Greeks to form a coalition after the objective help that they have given him in December for early parliamentary elections, refraining to vote for the presidential candidate presented by Mr. Samaras . This block had led to the dissolution of parliament and the new elections.

According to Panos Kammenos, their presence in a coalition with Syriza would allow the party Independent Greeks to be a "safety valve" for the country to avoid an absolute majority governs the country. In a campaign speech, he asked the question this way: "The dilemma lies in what voters want. Do they want a government of absolute majority or a national unity government whose Independent Greeks would be the guarantors of tomorrow? "