SYRIZA Back In The Lead Over ND

The major opposition party Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), in a horse race with the ruling New Democracy (ND) Conservatives for popular support, has eked out a narrow lead over the rivals in a new poll, although the two are still are essentially tied as they have been in a slew of recent surveys. Another poll days earlier showed ND had a razor-thin lead.
The poll conducted by Public Issue on behalf of SKAI TV and Kathimerini also shows that SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, who opposes the austerity measures being implemented by Prime Minister and ND chief Antonis Samaras, is gaining ground in the choice as to who is deemed better to be the  country’s leader.
According to the survey, which was carried out between May 10 and 15 on a sample of 1,031 Greeks, 28 percent would vote for SYRIZA if elections were held now compared to 27.5 percent for ND.
The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn would draw 11.5 percent of votes with 6.5 percent for the PASOK Socialists, 6 percent for the rightwing anti-bailout Independent Greeks and 5.5 percent for Democratic Left (DIMAR.) PASOK and DIMAR are partners in Samaras’ coalition government.
The poll was mostly an exercise in ideology though as 60 percent of Greeks, apparently satisfied with the new international loans pouring in, and despite Samaras continuing to impose pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions, said that are elections are not needed. Asked what result they believed snap elections would bring, 45 percent said ND would prevail while 41 percent said it would be SYRIZA.
Asked which party is most capable of tackling the economic crisis, only 12 percent voted for SYRIZA, 25 percent for ND with 49 percent of respondents saying neither of them is capable.
Tsipras’ popularity, which has been very uneven over the past few months, has shot up again, according to the Public Issue poll which showed the young leftist overtaking Samaras with 44 percent of votes compared to 39 percent for Samaras.
Asked, however, who is the best choice for premier, 40 percent voted for Samaras and 30 percent for Tsipras while 28 percent said neither are suitable for the job. Similarly, 35 percent believed the tripartite coalition is in a better position to govern than SYRIZA which was regarded as a better choice by 24 percent of respondents. A total of 38 percent said they believed neither the coalition nor SYRIZA is a reliable choice.
The survey found that most Greeks’ opinion about the European Union has improved with 42 percent regarding it favorably, up from 31 percent in April. The euro has fallen in popularity however with just 53 percent favoring the single currency compared to a high of 70 percent in February.