The governing conservative New Democracy party remains well ahead of the nearest challenger, while the top issues worrying Greek voters are the cost-of-living crisis and relations with Turkey, according to a new poll made public Thursday.
The Pulse survey for private Skai television projected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ ND to get 30% of the vote, followed by ELAS – the new party founded by left-wing former prime minister Alexis Tsipras – at 17%.
Socialist PASOK would place third at 11.5%, followed by rail safety activist Maria Karystianou’s Hope for Democracy at 8.5%. The poll projected two right-wing populist and two left-wing populist parties, as well as the Greek Communist Party, to also enter Parliament. It gave Tsipras’ former party, SYRIZA, 2%, below the 3% Parliamentary threshold.
The survey also found that 89% of respondents considered the cost-of-living crisis the most, or one of the most, important issues, while 56% said relations with Turkey were a major, or quite important, source of concern.
The majority of respondents also said they’d rather the next Parliamentary elections were held this year rather than next, when they are normally due – and when Mitsotakis has insisted he will call them, seeking a third term in office.
