The ruling centre-right New Democracy Party has a lead in the latest opinion poll, although its margin over left-wing opposition Syriza has been cut slightly, to 7.4 per cent, from 8.8 per cent by the same research firm in June it was reported in Kathimerini.
New Democracy gets the preference of 27.6 per cent of respondents in the Metron Analysis poll (28.9 per cent in June) and Syriza 20.2 per cent (20.1 per cent in June). The socialist PASOK is in third place, with 12.7 per cent (12.3 per cent), followed by the Communist Party with 6.1 per cent (5.6 per cent), leftist MeRA25 (part of the pan-European DiEM25 movement) with 4 per cent (3.3 per cent and hard-right populist Greek Solution with 3.4 per cent (3.7 per cent).
Nearly one in five respondents (18.9 per cent) are either undecided (7.4 per cent), will not vote (4.1 per cent), will cast a spoiled or blank ballot (2.5 per cent) or refused to answer (4.9 per cent).
The research company estimates, based on models regarding the final participation of voters in an election, that New Democracy would win 34.1% if an election was held now (versus 39.9 per cent in the last election, in July 2019), Syriza 24.9 per cent (31.5 per cent), PASOK 15.7 per cent (8.1 per cent), the Communist Part 7.5 per cent (5.3 per cent), MeRA25 4.9 per cent (3.4 per cent) and Greek Solution 4.2 per cent (3.7 per cent).
Asked about the issue that concerns them most, respondents said the economy and the cost of living (27 per cent), the energy crisis (13 per cent), unemployment, foreign policy and the war in Ukraine (7 per cent).
Asked about the wiretapping on socialist leader Nikos Androulakis’ phone, 61 per cent of respondents say Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis knew about it, 28 per cent say it was a one-off mistaken decision, 1 per cent responded it is common practice and 10 per cent responded with either “don’t know” or did not answer.
56 per cent of respondents have a negative view of the government (as many as in June, versus 55 per cent in May, 62 per cent in April and 59 per cent in March) and 35 per cent are positive (versus 38 per cent in June and May, 32 per cent in April and 33 per cent in March).
54 per cent of the respondents have a negative view of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (versus 53 per cent in June, 51per cent in May, 59% in April and 58 per cent in March) and 38 per cent are positive (41 per cent in June, 43 per cent in May, 36 per cent in April and 35per cent in March).
Asked if there should be early elections now versus ones toward the end of the government’s four-year term, 58 per cent were opposed and 39 per cent were supportive.
The next general election must take place by July next year.
