March 05, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Greece’s New Democracy (ND) party remains popular, according to a poll by Kapa Research. 29.1 per cent of respondents would support the governing party in the next general election, while 23.2 per cent would vote for the opposition Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Greece’s New Democracy (ND) party remains popular, according to a poll by Kapa Research. 29.1 per cent of respondents would support the governing party in the next general election, while 23.2 per cent would vote for the opposition Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).

The Coalition of the Radical Left (SYR) is third with 18.4 per cent, followed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 7.5 per cent, and the People’s Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) with 5.1 per cent.

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.

Greek voters renewed their Parliament in September 2007. Final results gave Karamanlis a second term in office, with 41.84 cent of the vote and 152 seats in the 300-member legislature. PASOK finished second, with 38.10 per cent and 102 lawmakers. In November, Papandreou defeated Evangelos Venizelos and Kostas Skandalidis in a special PASOK leadership ballot.

Workers at Greece’s electricity company Public Power Corp. (PPC) are currently on strike, protesting proposed reforms to the pension plan of public workers. The main workers union is against a government proposal that would see the PPC pension funds merged with Greece’s main Social Security Fund (IKA). Through a statement, the union declared on Mar. 3: "Through these strikes we want to show the government our determination to protect our pension rights, which have been won over 50 years of struggle."

Polling Data

What party would you support in the next general election?

New Democracy (ND)	29.1%
Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK)	23.2%
Coalition of the Radical Left (SYR)	18.4%
Communist Party of Greece (KKE)	7.5%
People’s Orthodox Alarm (LAOS)	5.1%

Source: Kapa Research
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 6,379 Greek voters, conducted from Feb. 19 to Feb. 22, 2008. No margin of error was provided.