Athens, Greece – Greece’s economy has shrunk by some 25 percent in recent years in its most severe crisis since the fall of the military government in 1974.

Thousands of businesses have closed, wages and pensions have been slashed, and unemployment among young people is more than 50 percent.

Sunday’s election is expected to bring a government led by the left-wing party Syriza, which has pledged to take on international lenders and roll back devastating austerity measures.

But many Greeks expressed hopelessness regarding the election outcome and prospects of economic recovery.