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New Democracy has a 7 percentage points lead over PASOK, shows a Public Issue survey. Based on the results of the survey, a total of eight parties will enter parliament, as PASOK and New Democracy received 38 percent of the vote, thus gaining a narrow majority.

In particular, the voting attitudes show that New Democracy will receive 22.5 percent of the vote, followed by PASOK with 15.5 percent, the left SYRIZA with 12.5 percent, the Communist Party KKE with 12 percent, the Democratic Left with 12 percent, the "Independent Greeks" with 8.5 percent and the neo-Nazis from "Golden Dawn" with 5 percent.

Again based on the survey, the following parties will not be able to gather the required percentage rate in order to enter parliament – the far-right LAOS (2 percent), the Democratic Alliance of Dora Bakogiannis and the Ecologists-Greens, which finds itself on the border with almost one percentage point.

Dilemmas and messages

Meanwhile, in interviews for the Sunday press the leaders of PASOK and New Democracy presented the objectives of their parties in light of the election race, pointing out the dilemmas that voters have to contend with.

In an interview with the Sunday issue of “Ethnos” newspaper PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos expressed optimism that his party would challenge the polls and would be the first political force in the upcoming elections. "If we want to stay in the Eurozone and overcome the crisis with as few losses for society as possible then PASOK needs to win the elections. This goal is realistic because people think and will make their decision on the Election Day", he said.

The PASOK leader defined the upcoming elections as "the most critical ones since 1974", by addressing those who think that the new government will be forced to take further austerity measures. "Our goal and duty is to avoid massive job cuts, especially cuts in salaries and pensions. According to some this is easy to do. To this we add that it can actually be achieved", he stressed.

Simultaneously Venizelos spoke of renewal in the ranks of PASOK. "We need a national "team”. We will govern together with experienced functionaries and young members of PASOK, with people of PASOK but also with people outside the party - prominent professionals who are prepared to effectively implement the specific tasks assigned by the government", said Venizelos.

Finally, he criticized New Democracy, stating that "there are some who are playing with the fate of the country, the victims and the fears of people." "This is why everyone needs to consider who offers him something safe, concrete, achievable, accountable, and who just demagogues or wants to take party dividends from the elections", concluded the leader of PASOK.

The leader of New Democracy, in turn, considers it to be inevitable for new elections to be held if those who follow do not provide one government.

"Not forming an independent government is the worst-case scenario. Then new elections will be inevitable. It will be necessary to do so, not just because I want it," Antonis Samaras said in an interview for the Sunday issue of "Kathimerini" newspaper.

He, however, expressed optimism that there will be an independent government, stressing that New Democracy is "the only coordinated force in a political system that is falling apart."

"We have the support of many in Greece, because we want to change everything. Often, we are supported by factors outside of Greece as well, because we know how to negotiate regarding the interests of the state. This is why we will achieve an independent government", said Samaras.

The New Democracy leader hinted that he will do everything possible not to take new austerity measures and responded to those who believe that a new rescue package will be needed in June. “We have already given guarantees that the 3 billion Euros, which is expected to be agreed upon in June for 2012 and the other 7 billion Euros for 2013-14, will not bring tax and property tax increases. Also, receiving this money will not affect the most vulnerable groups", he explained.

Samaras also reiterated his commitment for taking measures to alleviate those with low pensions and large families. "Do you know how much restoration of the lowest pensions costs? Around 350 million Euros. Benefits for large families cost much less. And since all of those are being spent, over half of them will return to the state through the market itself," said the leader of New Democracy.

Samaras reiterated his call for a mobilization of forces and suggested that Dora Bakogiannis might not be excluded from this process. "There is room for everyone who wants to join in the struggle for independent government and to help with this. And if at one point they have inflicted a wound, and now want to heal it, this will be a valuable tool for us", said Samaras.

The leader of the far-right party LAOS George Karadzaferis, in turn, predicts that after the elections there will be cooperation between PASOK and New Democracy. Karadzaferis attacked both leaders - Venizelos and Samaras - by calling them "unreliable".

In an interview Karadzaferis anticipated that after the election the two major parties will cooperate because "both parties together, supported by the ambitious efforts of the Troika, will have 151 deputies to govern with."

The LAOS leader blamed Venizelos and Samaras for the "total loss of national sovereignty" and along with this noted that "they themselves have tied their hands by signing the letter to the International Monetary Fund."