Latest opinion poll sees consolidated lead by ND over SYRIZA

The latest opinion poll unveiled in Greece this week gives ruling New Democracy (ND) party an eight-percentage-point lead over main opposition SYRIZA, with the former appearing to cement the difference with the latter and even showing signs of gradually increasing its strength.

The poll by the Pulse firm, presented on an Athens channel’s prime-time newscast, was the last by the specific pollster for the year, with 2023 seeing the holding of a scheduled general election.

Specifically, center-right ND is given 34 percent of respondents’ preferences – among valid responses – compared to 26 percent for leftist SYRIZA.

Third-place PASOK-KINAL showed signs of decline, in the wake of the so-called “Qatar-gate” furor involving, among others, currently jailed MEP Eva Kaili, a long-standing member of the party and office-holder. The socialist grouping garnered 10.5 percent of respondents’ preferences.

Another three smaller parties currently represented in Parliament are also shown as re-entering the legislature, as all three received more than 3 percent of respondents’ preferences – the same figure needed, as a percentage of valid votes in a general election, to field MPs in Parliament.

The percentage of respondents designated as undecided reached 13 percent.

On the question of who is more suitable for prime minister, incumbent Kyriakos Mitsotakis was preferred by 39 percent of respondents, compared to 28 percent for former premier Alexis Tsipras; the answer “neither” was also preferred by 28 percent.

The opinion poll was conducted between Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 on a sample of 1,103 respondents.