Greece’s opposition New Democracy party has widened its lead over the Socialist party, but wouldn’t have enough votes to form a majority government on its own, a public opinion poll showed Sunday.
According to the Kathimerini newspaper, New Democracy would likely garner 30.5% of the vote if elections were held now, against just 14% for the Socialists.
The poll also showed a sharp rise in support for left-wing parties, especially the newly established Democratic Left party led by independent Greek politician Fotis Kouvellis.
According to the poll, the Democratic Left would receive 12% of the vote–well above the 3% threshold needed to enter parliament–while the Communist Party of Greece would also get 12.5% and the Coalition of the Radical Left would get a further 12% of the vote. Greece’s Green party would also enter parliament for the first time, the poll showed, implying a hung parliament made up of seven parties, compared with five now.
Based on those results and taking into account Greece’s system of reinforced proportional representation, New Democracy would hold between 127 and 138 seats in Greece’s 300-member parliament following elections. The Socialists, who currently have 153 seats, would shrink to just a 32 to 43 seat minority.
The poll confirms other recent surveys showing a widespread disenchantment with Greece’s two largest parties–New Democracy and the Socialist, or Pasok, party–as well as deep-rooted concern over the future of the country.
(source: Kathimerini, Dow Jones)
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