Galery

1

There will be an eight-party parliament and a coalition government, according to a new poll of the political developments in Greece. The biggest surprise in it is the two-digit result of the newly established party Independent Greeks headed by Panos Kamenos, who was disaffiliated with the "blue".

The results show that 22.5% of the participants will vote for New Democracy, for PASOK and the Communist Party - 12.5%, for the Democratic Left - 11.5%, for the Independent Greeks - 11%, for the far right-wing LAOS - 3% and for the extreme right-wing Golden Dawn - 3.5%. Then follow the Green environmentalists with 2.5%, the Democratic Alliance of Dora Bakogiannis - 2%, the left-wing parties Andarsiya and Arma politon with 1.5% each and Stefanos Manos’ Drasi with 1%.

The most popular among politicians are the leaders of left-wing parties. The highest rate of approval has been given to the leader of the left-wing formation Arma politon Yiannis Dimaras - 45% of the positive vote of the respondents. Next is Fotis Kouvelis, the leader of the Democratic Left with 40%, Alexis Tsipras from SYRIZA - 31% and Panos Kamenos - 29%. Evangelos Venizelos, Antonis Samaras and Aleka Papariga share 20% in popularity. Last is the leader of the far right-wing party LAOS George Karatzaferis.

"Have a little patience," were the words of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, when journalists asked him about the exact date of early elections. Sources say the delay is due to a dispute between the leaders of both major parties that support the government. Antonis Samaras insists that they should take place on 29 April, while Evangelos Veznizelos is striving to gain each day and wants the elections to take place on 13 May. New Democracy argues that the elections should not be held after 1 May, when there will be protests against the economic policy. This will probably connect the protest with the vote. Moreover, they preclude that the election period continues for almost a month and a half.

PASOK, although no one admits it publicly, believes that every day helps. In this way, Evangelos Venizelos will have more time to make organizational changes in the party and unite the voters by trying to get closer to Fotis Kouvelis’ Democratic Left.

While the Prime Minister is not rushing to announce the date of the upcoming elections, significant changes are taking place on the Greek political stage. In a surprising decision, the new leader of PASOK Evangelos Venizelos announced Fofi Genimata as party spokeswoman. Currently, she is Deputy Minister of Education and is expected to withdraw. Commentators suggest that this decision of the leader is the result of the support of Fofi Genimata and the circle of deputies influenced by her in the internal struggle against him.

The seven disaffiliated members of New Democracy, who voted in favour of the agreement for the new bailout to Greece, are expected to be recalled to the party. Antonis Samaras has not given a sign yet, but expectations are that they will return to the party. A significant number of their colleagues have passed to the camp of the newly established Independent Greeks party that emerges as a hub for the right-focused opponents of the memorandum policy. Quite surprisingly, however, the leader Panos Kamenos said he is in talks with the leader of Arma politon Yiannis Dimaras and cooperation between them is possible. Should this scenario happen, it will be the first cooperation between right and left forces in Greece.

PASOK, on ​​the contrary, does not seem to want the disaffiliated to return. Some of them have already joined other political parties like the Democratic Left and the newly established party of former ministers Louka Katseli and Harris Kastanidis, Social Agreement.

Under these conditions, the two new parties could form parliamentary groups, which will make them eligible for state funding, despite the short time to the elections. This will give them the opportunity to benefit from all the advantages inside and outside parliament during the election campaign.

At the same time, the far right-wing LAOS refuted the results of polls showing that the party is losing at the expense of the extreme Golden Dawn.

"For LAOS, the results of the polls are not accurate in any way," said deputy Asterios Rondoulis and expressed his belief that Golden Dawn will not manage to enter parliament after the elections.

As for Independent Greeks, he said it is the concern of New Democracy, rather than of his party. "There is a lot of money. Poll agencies are the most profitable companies," he added, indirectly accusing poll agencies of counterfeiting the polls of social trends.