As Greece entered on Monday the final week of campaign ahead of Sunday's fresh parliamentary elections, voters remained anxious about the post-election scene of the debt-ridden country, which is faced with a bailout dilemma.

According to the last opinion polls, the conservatives of New Democracy (ND) party led by Antonis Samaras and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party of Alexis Tsipras vie for the first place in the forthcoming electoral battle, leading respectively the pro-bailout and anti-bailout forces.

The ND pushes for a moderate renegotiation of the two bailout deals with international creditors that since 2010 keep Greece afloat with vital rescue loans in exchange of drastic and painful austerity and reform measures. The review is deemed necessary, since austerity fuelled deep recession.

The SYRIZA promotes a more confrontational review of the bailout agreements that could lead to annulment. Political opponents and analysts at home and abroad warn that this step could lead the country to default with no further aid from lenders, and back to drachma with chaotic consequences.

In any case, ordinary Greeks, who have seen their lives change dramatically over the past two years due to cutbacks on salaries and pensions, tax increases, unemployment and uncertainty, feel that they are asked to choose between the bad and the worse.

No matter whether they will vote for pro-bailout ND, SYRIZA or other parties, they fear that they will be faced with more instability and tougher times, within or outside the euro.

Panayiotis Papadatos, a 70-year-old pensioner, has seen his income reduced by some 50 percent since 2010. He will vote for ND next Sunday.

"I believe that ND is a political party that has been tested and will guarantee our stay in the eurozone and the interests of the middle class...If we return to drachma, there will be a devaluation of the currency by 65 percent and we will be isolated from the other European countries," he explained to Xinhua.

He supports a few more painful measures in return of stability and is convinced that ND can find the right formula in consultations with lenders. "Without their help, we wouldn't have money to pay salaries and pensions," he noted.

However, Papadatos fears that since opinion surveys show that no party will secure parliamentary majority, as it happened in May 6 parliamentary elections, Greece could sink into political uncertainty.

"Greek history has shown that coalition governments here have failed. One or two captains can rescue the ship, but if there are more, they will sink it," he stressed.

Maria Arapakis, a 45-year-old nurse and mother of a seven-year-old child, tries to be an optimist, despite the difficulties.

She believes that SYRIZA can secure Greece a more socially-fair solution to the debt crisis compared with the mainstream parties such as ND which have ruled Greece for years.

"I will vote for SYRIZA, because I believe that Alexis Tsipras can negotiate the terms of the bailout agreements without jeopardizing Greece's position in the eurozone," she told Xinhua.

"My life has changed a lot, I have seen my salary reduced by 20 percent, but my husband and I don't give up, as we have to think of our child's needs," she added.

Part-time real estate agent George Kritikos, 34, has not decided yet whether he will vote for the Democratic Left or the Eco Green party. But he believes that both could participate in a coalition government that will promote the country's interest.

He strongly supports the country's membership in the European common currency zone. "We should remain in the eurozone. We live in a globalized society," he said.

Kritikos studied marketing in London and now lives with his parents in Athens, since he can not afford to rent a flat and make a living on "crumbs."

"We earn less, but we try to adapt to the new reality. Still I think that we shouldn't lose our faith for a better future," he told Xinhua.

Elissavet Bali, a 28-year-old lawyer, can not share his strength. She appears tired, pessimistic and in agony over the future regardless of the outcome of the elections.

"The majority of Greeks don't want to a Greek exit from the eurozone and I agree with them. The perspective makes me feel insecure. But we are always afraid of the unknown," she explained.

"On the other hand, in this dramatic situation, I also fear staying in the euro, since more harsh measures will be imposed in order to achieve deficit reduction goals," she noted.

Even though she feels the squeeze of austerity and recession every day since the start of the debt crisis in 2009, counting each euro to make ends meet every month, she considers herself quite lucky in comparison to the over-1-million jobless and people who suffer more.

"Watching homeless people in the streets of Athens, feeling the misery in the atmosphere in combination with the images of great poverty, makes you lose your hope for the future," she said.