Trio of opinion polls ahead of Sunday election in Greece

A trio of opinion polls were unveiled on Thursday, four days before a repeat general election in Greece, with the two main results being New Democracy (ND) party’s double-digit percentage point lead over rival SYRIZA, as well as the prospect of up to eight parties entering the country’s 300-deputy Parliament.

A party must receive above 3 percent of the general vote (of valid ballots) to enter parliament.

More parties in the legislature mean that the first-past-the-post party will elect less deputies in forming a majority government, i.e. 150+ MPs.

Center-right ND is calculated, as based on poll results, as receiving from 38.5 to 43.8 percent of the vote.

In one poll, conducted by the Pulse firm, and presented on Skai TV, ND is given 38.5 to leftist SYRIZA’s 19 percent. Socialist PASOK follows with 11.5 percent; the Communist Party (KKE) is given 6.5 percent. Seven parties are forecast to enter Parliament, as based on results of this poll.

In a poll by the GPO firm, 41.8 percent of respondents said their vote is based on the criterion of stability in the country; 23.3 percent of respondents said their criterion is a change of policy / government.