WITH LESS THAN A FORTNIGHT BEFORE GREEK VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS, ON OCTOBER 29, ELECTION CAMPAIGNS ARE BEING STEPPED UP. MR. SPYRO MARKEZINIS, LEADER OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY, LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN BY SPEAKING TO A MASS RALLY OF HIS FOLLOWERS IN RHODES, ON OCTOBER 15, WHERE HE OUTLINED THE GENERAL LINES OF HIS PARTY'S PROGRAMME.

AFTER HIS SPEECH IN RHODES HE TOURED AND ADDRESSED FOLLOWERS IN THE VILLAGES OF KOSKINOU, KALITHIES, AFANTOU, AND ARHANGELOS.

THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY HAS JOINED WITH THE COALITION OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES, FORMING THE "UNION OF CENTRE". MR. MARKEZINIS SAID HIS PARTY PROGRAMME AIMED AT A THOROUGH OVERHAULING OF THE STATE MACHINERY, AND RADICAL SOCIAL REFORMS.

IN THE EVENT THAT NEITHER OF THE TWO BIG POLITICAL PARTIES, THE NATIONAL RADICAL UNION OF THE UNION OF CENTRE, SUCCEED IN OBTAINING A MAJORITY OF SEATS IN THE PARLIAMENT, MR. MARKEZINIS AND HIS FEW DEPUTIES WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

THE ELECTION IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT APPOINTED BY KING PAUL OF THE HELLENES AFTER THE RESIGNATION, EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF ITS TERM OF OFFICE, OF THE RADICAL UNION GOVERNMENT WHICH HAD RULED THE COUNTRY FOR SIX AND A HALF YEARS.