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A man begging for alms lays by a sticker with Greece' national football team players one day before general elections in Athens, on Saturday, June 16 2012. Greeks vote for the second time in six weeks Sunday amid fears that the country could be forced out of the euro if they reject the strict austerity measures taken in return for billions of euros in rescue loans from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund.
ATHENS, Greece—Greeks have begun voting in their second election in six weeks, and arguably their country's most critical vote in 40 years, with its treasured place within the European Union's joint currency in the balance.

The political turmoil has roiled markets across the world, with fears that a vote on Sunday in favor of parties that have vowed to cancel the country's international bailout agreements and accompanying austerity measures could see it forced out of the euro. That in turn would likely drag down other financially troubled countries and rip apart the euro itself.

The last opinion polls published before a two-week pre-election ban showed the radical left Syriza party of Alexis Tsipras running neck-and-neck with the conservative New Democracy party of Antonis Samaras.