Pulse Poll: ND Tops PASOK by 14% Points; Some Concern Over Trump

Ruling New Democracy (ND) fields a 14%-point over the second-place party in the latest opinion poll results by the Pulse firm, which were presented on Thursday.

An extrapolation of the results gives the center-right party 30% of respondents’ preference, compared to 16% for PASOK, which is now the main opposition in Parliament. The Communist Party (KKE) is in third place, at 9.5%, tied with the right-wing Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution) party. Leftist SYRIZA, which saw another batch of MPs quit the party last year and cause it to lose its main opposition status, was favored by 6% of respondents, when the results are analyzed.

Another five parties, two of who are new and not represented in the current Parliament, are shown as fielding above 3%, which if translated into actual ballots in a general election would mean representation in the 300-deputy legislature.

Specifically, the populist and rightist Foni tis Logikis (Voice of Reason) party is shown at a surprising 6%. The latter was established by one-time ND cadre from Thessaloniki Aphrodite Latinopoulou, who ran with the party in the last European Parliament election and was elected as its sole MEP.

Ousted SYRIZA president Stefanos Kasselakis’ liberal Movement of Democracy hovers at 3%.

In terms of actual voter intent, ND collects 25.5%, raising its tally by a half percentage point from the previous month’s Pulse poll.

Incumbent PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to lead his rivals in the question of “who is best-suited as prime minister”, favored by 30% of respondents. PASOK president Nikos Androulakis is a distant second with 8%, with the rest of the party leaders also in “single-digit territory”.

Beyond the “echo chamber” that often colors political developments in Greece and their coverage by the local media, respondents were also queried over the stunning return of Donald Trump to the White House. Specifically, 27% of respondents said they viewed a second Trump administration with “concern”; 22% responded that they were “curious” and 16% declared themselves “neutral or indifferent”.

The outspoken US president fared the best among men aged between 17 to 44, and worst by women in the same age group.

The results were presented on the prime-time newscast of Skai TV.