SYRIZA more popular, euro less so, says latest poll of Greeks
Greeks’ skepticism toward the euro rose substantially last month, as did the popularity of SYRIZA and its leader Alexis Tsipras, according to a new Public Issue opinion poll.
The survey, carried out for Skai and Kathimerini, indicated that only 59 percent of Greeks have a positive view of the euro compared to 70 percent last month. Six in 10 said the government should continue talks with the troika to reduce the country’s debt.
SYRIZA edged 1 percent ahead of New Democracy, with 29.5 percent support against 28.5 percent. Backing for extremist Golden Dawn fell 1.5 percentage points to 10 percent but it still ranked third, followed by Independent Greeks on 8 percent and PASOK on 7.5 percent. SYRIZA’s popularity rose four percentage points over the last month, with 41 percent of voters having a favorable view of the leftists, who overtook ND on 40 percent. Tsipras’s popularity rose seven percentage points, making him more popular than Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on 43 percent, against the younger politician’s 44 percent.
At the first meeting of PASOK’s new central political committee on Thursday, party leader Evangelos Venizelos suffered a setback during the vote to elect the 13 members of the party’s new political council as three of his choices failed to gather enough support. Nikos Androulakis was elected secretary.
