Support for Greek political parties falls

Support for the two parties backing Greece’s international bailout remains at historic lows less than a month before a general election, two polls have indicated.

The polls were published yesterday a day after the vote was formally set for 6 May. The snap election has caused concern among the country’s international lenders, which want Greece’s future government to stick to the austerity policies that underpin its €130 billion (£107bn) bailout.

Support for the conservative New Democracy party was at 19 per cent, a poll by Public Issue in newspaper Kathimerini showed, a drop of 3.5 per cent compared to the end of March.

The Socialist PASOK shed one per cent to 14.5 per cent, according to the poll, which was conducted between 3-9 April.

Based on those poll numbers, the two parties combined may not win an absolute majority of seats in parliament.

Backing for smaller, anti-bailout parties remained high, the poll showed, particularly for the Independent Greeks, a group formed last month by New Democracy rebel Panos Kammenos, who was expelled from his party for rejecting the bailout.

Another poll by Metron Analysis, published in newspaper Imerisia, showed New Democracy at 24.3 per cent and PASOK at 15.4 per cent.