Opposition leader calls for a 'strong result' on May 26, leading to snap polls

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday called for a "strong result" in Sunday's elections for European Parliament and local government that would compel Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to call general elections early instead of in October when the leftist government's term expires.

Speaking on Alpha TV, the conservative leader said he is hoping for a result that will "set in motion immediate political developments, because the country cannot stand a protracted pre-election period."

Criticizing a recent package of controversial relief measures announced by the government, the 51-year-old economist said that the "real way to help pensioners is not to give them a bonus payment, but to provide work for their children and grandchildren."

"No pensioner is going to change how he votes because he got a pre-election handout just five days before the polls,"...