New party seeks to shake up Greek politics, says founder

(ATHENS) - A new Greek political party that has catapulted to third place in the polls is hoping to overhaul the country's dysfunctional politics, its founder said Sunday.

Former TV journalist Stavros Theodorakis said in interviews with Sunday newspapers that he wanted to break the rigid party-driven format of Greek politics.

Launched in February his party To Potami -- 'river' in Greek -- already polls at up to 10 percent, enough to win third place in forthcoming European elections.

Theodorakis has enlisted an eclectic mix of candidates for his European parliament ticket including the sons of two well-known Greek leftists, business owners and the former captain of Greece's men's waterpolo team.

"These are the people we want to send to the European parliament," the 50-year-old, who also runs a website and owns a top-end restaurant in Athens, told Eleftherotypia daily.

"Creative people who will move outside the old ideological stereotypes and restore Greece's status among European society."

Hard-hit by the economic crisis, Greece is experiencing a sixth straight year of recession and has a staggering 28 percent unemployment rate.

Last week thousands of protesters took to the streets even as the centre-right government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced its return to the bond markets.

In another interview Theodorakis -- who says Greece can be saved by tourism and quality agriculture -- said he wanted lawmakers to "vote by conscience".

"What's the point of MPs sitting in formation, like soldiers? Why should they line up behind their leader?" he told the Kathimerini daily.

The party has been likened to the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in Italy, which is lead by the comedian Beppe Grillo.

It will hold its founding congress on June 15, nearly a month after the European ballot.

Last week, Theodorakis travelled to Brussels for meetings with the European socialist, liberal and green party groups, although he has steadfastly refused to reveal which side he will support.