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Less Than a Point Separates Greek Parties
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - There is no clear favourite in Greece's national political scene, according to a poll by ALCO. 35 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing New Democracy (ND), while 34.2 per cent would back the opposition Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) in next month's parliamentary ballot.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) is third with 6.5 per cent, followed by the People's Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) with 3.6 per cent, and the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYR) with 3.4 per cent. The early election is scheduled for Sept. 16.
In the March 2004 election, Kostas Karamanlis led the ND to victory, securing 165 seats in the Greek Parliament. PASOK had administered the government since January 1996. Current PASOK leader George Papandreou served as foreign minister under Kostas Simitis.
On Aug. 25, the government declared a nationwide state of emergency after a series of devastating forest fires broke out in southern Greece. Karamanlis suggested that arson might be to blame, saying the crisis "cannot be a coincidence." PASOK has pledged to donate 30 per cent of its campaign budget to the victims. At least 63 people have lost their lives in the fires.
On Aug. 29, Papandreou again criticized the way the Karamanlis administration has handled the situation, saying, "The government has proven tragically incapable of dealing with the fires. (.) It continues to act irresponsibly. It is busy fabricating conspiracy terror theories. The result: Greeks are being ridiculed abroad. Our nation cannot tolerate a government propped up on fear."
Polling Data
What party would you support in the next parliamentary election?
New Democracy (ND) | 35.0% |
Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) | 34.2% |
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) | 6.5% |
People's Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) | 3.6% |
Coalition of the Radical Left (SYR) | 3.4% |
Source: ALCO
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,000 Greek adults, conducted from Aug. 21 to Aug. 26, 2007. No margin of error was provided.