Poll shows growing public discontent
Citizens are growing increasingly disillusioned with the country’s political parties, according to the results of a new survey which shows that eight in 10 Greeks are unhappy with the government and an even larger proportion – nine out of 10 – are unimpressed with the main conservative opposition. The survey, conducted by Public Issue for Kathimerini, also showed that support for ruling PASOK has fallen slightly but the Socialists still enjoy a comfortable lead over New Democracy. According to the poll, PASOK would garner 42.5 percent of the vote if elections were held now compared to 28 percent for the conservatives. The poll, carried out between October 1 and 4, also showed a slight decline in support for Prime Minister George Papandreou, whose ratings slipped 3 percentage points, to 47 percent. Papandreou yesterday visited the Ionian island of Corfu, meeting with businesspeople and residents to discuss their problems ahead of local authority elections on November 7. Papandreou said the decentralization of power would boost many problems currently faced at the local level. ND leader Antonis Samaras continued his campaign trail in the Peloponnese. He accused the government of keeping Greeks «in a state of fear» and promised to «restore hope.»
