Metron Analysis poll gives ND wider lead over rival SYRIZA

Incumbent New Democracy (ND) party appears gaining in electoral strength in the latest opinion poll unveiled over the weekend, after a significant drop in voter approval ratings in the wake of the Feb. 28 Tempi rail disaster, and now less than a month away from general elections on May 21.

Specifically, center-right ND is given 27.8 percent of respondents’ preference in a poll conducted by the Metron Analysis firm and published in the Sunday edition of “To Vima”. The figure is up from 26.2 percent picked up by the party in the last such poll by the same firm in March 2023.

Main opposition SYRIZA pools 22.2 percent, up from 21.5 percent last month.

Conversely, socialist PASOK party shows decreasing support, at 8.5 percent, down from 9.4 percent last month. In terms of other lesser parties currently represented in Parliament, the Communist Party (KKE) rises to 6 percent, from 5.7 percent last month; Yanis Varoufakis’ Mera25 is given 4.4 percent (3.9 percent previously).

A new extreme right party established by jailed one-time Golden Dawn party lieutenant Ilias Kasidiaris is shown at 3.5 percent, up from 3.8 percent last month. A party that picks up more than 3 percent in a general election (of valid votes) enters Parliament.

A supreme court ruling is pending on whether a party established by Kasidiaris or even one controlled by him can vie in an election.

Asked who is more suitable as prime minister, incumbent Kyriakos Mitsotakis is given 38 percent, while former premier – and his predecessor – Alexis Tsipras is given 18 percent.