Poll: Greeks swing both left and right
Greeks appear to be strongly committed to both conservative and left-wing, or «progressive,» ideas and forms of behavior, according to the findings of an opinion poll presented last night by state TV. On the one hand, the national poll found that 45 percent of those polled are in favor of euthanasia (with 42 percent opposed) while only 37 percent support cremation and 54 percent oppose the idea. But a conservative streak is suggested by the fact that 54 percent are in favor of a ban on demonstrators closing Athenian streets (with 36 percent against) at a time when no political party would dare to propose such a measure. On the economy, most citizens (43 percent versus 32 percent) are in favor of full privatization of state utilities, while left-wing parties support state control. Fifty percent agree with the scrapping direct taxes and expanding indirect taxation. Then, adopting the battle cry of left-wing parties despite the fact that this might lead to a lack of strong government, 50 percent said they wanted an electoral system based on simple proportional representation, while 23 percent oppose this. Strangely, 38 percent of those who say they vote for the conservative New Democracy party say they would like to see this system adopted. A full 74 percent say they oppose the legalization of cannabis. In a clear sign of xenophobia, 63 percent said they opposed the construction of a mosque in Athens while 27 percent support it. The capital has no official place of worship for Muslims. The poll, by ALCO, was conducted among 1,962 people between March 21 and April 5.
