ND popularity lead grows to 8.4 pct
Although the ruling Socialists are considered marginally better qualified to manage the economy within the eurozone and preparing for the 2004 Olympics, opposition New Democracy would win with an 8.4 percent margin were elections to be held now, the latest opinion poll shows. Government spokesman Christos Protopappas reacted by saying PASOK would try to deliver on its electoral promises. According to a nationwide survey conducted by MRB pollsters on behalf of New Democracy that was made public on Saturday, not only have the conservatives increased their lead over PASOK, but their leader, Costas Karamanlis, is considered fitter to govern than Prime Minister Costas Simitis. The poll, conducted from March 6-19, gave ND a 36 percent rating, followed by PASOK at 27.6 percent. The Greek Communist Party retained third position at five percent, with Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos’s fledgling Movement of Free Citizens coming fourth at four percent and Synaspismos Left Coalition clinging to 3.2 percent – a mere 0.2 percent above the parliamentary threshold. Particularly after the government’s abortive attempt a year ago to reform Greece’s ailing social security system, the conservatives have been steadily gaining ground. An MRB poll in December gave ND 34.8 percent to PASOK’s 28.2 percent. Halfway through his four-year mandate, the PM has slipped 3.2 percent behind Karamanlis, whom 40.1 percent of respondents named as most competent for the job of running Greece. Adding to PASOK’s troubles, ND was judged more trustworthy on 11 out of 13 policy areas – including health, relations with Turkey, tackling crime, inflation, and unemployment, as well as improving the civil service – with the Socialists only doing slightly better on «matters regarding Greece’s position in the eurozone» and organizing the Athens Olympic Games.
