New Democracy leads in latest poll

The new Greek parliament would see the leading party without an overall majority and up to eight parties crossing the three per cent threshold, according to a poll published on Thursday. T

he poll on voter intentions, carried out by VPRC and published in the weekly Epikaira magazine, suggests that New Democracy and Pasok, the only parties backing the government of Lucas Papademos and the second bailout, may find it hard to renew their coalition government after the anticipated election.

The two parties are polling a combined 35 per cent, a new record low.

The poll did not examine how this would translate into parliamentary seats. Analysts, however, have said the two parties may not secure an absolute majority of at least 151 seats if their support drops below 36 per cent. The poll puts New Democracy in the lead, on 22.5 per cent of the vote, down five points since the last VPRC poll, but ten points ahead of Pasok and the Communist Party (KKE), which are each on 12.5 per cent.

The Radical Left Coalition (Syriza) is in fourth place, at 12 per cent, followed by the Democratic Left (11.5 per cent), Independent Greeks (11 per cent), Golden Dawn (3.5 per cent) and the Popular Orthodox Rally (Laos) on 3 per cent.

On the basis of the poll, the following parties will not pass the three percent threshold necessary to enter parliament: the Ecogreens, which polled 2.5 per cent, the Democratic Alliance (2 per cent) and the Anticapitalist Left (Antarysa), Drasi and the Panhellenic Citizens Chariot on 1.5 per cent).

Other parties polled 3 per cent in total.

The poll was conducted nationwide on March 15-19, before the formation of Louka Katseli's Social Pact, a Pasok splinter, but after the creation of Independent Greeks, a new anti-austerity party founded by lawmaker Panos Kammenos who was expelled from New Democracy for opposing the bailout.

"There is an unprecedented degree of uncertainty," VPRC pollster Christoforos Vernardakis wrote in Epikaira. "The pre-election period which will officially open in a few days will be the most fluid and unpredictable one since 1974 (when democracy was restored after the junta)," he added.

Speaking on Flash radio, Laos challenged the veracity of the poll, saying that it failed to reflect the party's real strength.

"There is a lot of money going around and the polling companies are among the most profitable businesses," claimed Laos spokesman Asterios Rontoulis.

Source: Athens News