Greeks worried about finances
More than six in 10 Greeks are seriously concerned about their financial situation, as compared to four in 10 this time last year, according to the results of a Eurobarometer survey which also showed Greeks to be the most mistrustful of their public administration among all European citizens. A total of 65 percent of respondents claimed to be seriously concerned about their buying power and ability to pay their bills, compared to a 47 percent EU average. A similar poll conducted by the European Commission’s statistics service last spring found that just 42 percent of Greeks felt this pessimism about their personal finances. Paradoxically, six in 10 Greeks (again 65 percent) claimed to be «overall satisfied» with their daily lives, compared to a 77 percent EU average. Generally though, the Greek response to this year’s poll conveys a sense of doom and gloom. Eight in 10 (79 percent) respondents said they feared that their children’s lives would be tougher than their own, compared to a 61 percent European average. Only the French had a glummer outlook on this issue with 82 percent saying they were worried about their children’s future. Of the Greeks who expressed pessimism, four in 10 (40 percent) said their main fear was unemployment while a third (33 percent) said rising prices were getting them down. Greeks top the European chart when it comes to mistrusting public institutions, the poll also revealed. Nearly nine in 10 (86 percent) of respondents believe that the country’s public administration is devoid of transparency. A significant proportion of Greeks – 66 percent – also expressed mistrust of the government, up from 54 percent last year. According to the poll, Greeks are also the EU’s most suspicious of information conveyed via the media with 72 percent distrustful of television and 65 percent questioning the word of the press.
