New Democracy edges ahead in opinion poll
Conservative New Democracy, which leads the fragile tripartite coalition government, has edged ahead of the anti-bailout leftist SYRIZA in popular support, according to the results of a new opinion poll carried out by Public Issue for Skai and Kathimerini.
According to the poll, ND would garner 28.5 percent of the vote if general elections were to be held now with SYRIZA drawing 27.5 percent, a drop of around 2 percent for the leftists compared to the last poll in March. The ultra-rightwing Golden Dawn would net 11 percent and socialist PASOK, the second party in the coalition, would come fourth with 8 percent. The rightwing Independent Greeks, another anti-bailout party, and Democratic Left, the third party in the coalition, would draw 6.5 percent apiece and the Communist Party (KKE) 5.5 percent.
In terms of who is expected to prevail if elections were held, 45 percent said New Democracy and 43 percent said SYRIZA.
Questioned about whether there is an immediate need for elections, 60 percent of respondents said no while 36 percent said snap polls were needed.
According to the survey, Democratic Left chief Fotis Kouvelis remains the most popular party leader with 43 percent of respondents expressing a positive opinion of him compared to 39 percent for Prime Minister and ND leader Antonis Samaras and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras.
As for who is most appropriate for prime minister, 41 percent opted for Samaras and 26 percent for Tsipras while 31 percent chose “noone.”
For 34 percent of respondents, a coalition government with ND, PASOK and Democratic Left is the best current option while 21 percent would prefer a SYRIZA administration.
The country’s biggest problems were deemed to be the economy and unemployment, each drawing 50 percent of respondents’ votes.
