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New Democracy and Samaras enjoy the highest rate of approval

16 June 2013 / 15:06:23  GRReporter
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Public Issue’s political barometer for June, a survey conducted on behalf of Kathimerini newspaper and Skai TV, showed the highest approval rate for New Democracy - 57%, followed by SYRIZA - 31%. If the elections were held today, New Democracy would win with 29.5% of the vote, SYRIZA - 27.5%, Golden Dawn - 11, 5%, PASOK - 6, 5%, the Independent Greeks party and the Communist Party - 6%, and Democratic Left - 4.5%.

According to May’s rating study, New Democracy marked a two points rise, while SYRIZA marked a half point decrease. As for the popularity of political leaders, Fotis Kouvelis and Antonis Samaras rank first, with an equal approval rate - 42%. Compared to the results of the previous rating study, the approval rate for Kouvelis has decreased, while the number of people who approve Samaras has increased; they are followed by Alexis Tsipras - 37%, Panos Kamenos - 32%, Evangelos Venizelos - 22%, Dimitris Koutsoubas - 21% (increased approval rate) and Nikos Mihaloliakos - 15%.

According to 41% of respondents, Antonis Samaras is the most suitable Prime Minister, and according to 27% - Alexis Tsipras.

According to 37% of respondents, New Democracy-PASOK-Democratic Left’s government is the best, and according to 22% - SYRIZA’s.

The political parties’ popularity has decreased, except for New Democracy, which has marked a one point increase. SYRIZA has marked the largest decrease - from 44% in May to 34% now, and is currently at the level of New Democracy.

The study was conducted between 6 June and 11 June (the government announced ERT’s shutdown on 11 June).

Meanwhile, ERT’s closure led to disagreements between political parties supporting the government. Anticipating Monday’s meeting, Samaras is determined to close ERT, and his suggestion for coping with the crisis via the establishment of a temporary working cross-party committee at the National Television is not enjoying much support among government partners. PASOK and Democratic Left are insisting on the restoration of ERT’s signal. According to PASOK, Samaras’s statement does not correspond to what party leader Venizelos has requested. Democratic Left’s opinion is firm. In an interview, Kouvelis told the Associated Press, that ERT should remain open and if Samaras preferred the elections which would come as a result, he should take the responsibility.

Associates of Fotis Kouvelis said that Democratic Left insisted on the following: the immediate opening of ERT, which should work with its full programme, continuation of its reorganisation in motion, and a repeal of the legal act for ERT’s closure.

In his statement Samaras emphasised that the Minister of Finance has already appointed a manager of the television who will administer it after the closure. He is also suggesting the establishment of a temporary committee with broad political participation, so that a small number of staff could be appointed that will allow the information programme of the public television to start being broadcasted. A bill for the creation of a new public television has already been submitted in parliament, which can be passed next week. Samaras said that he expected political leaders to show political responsibility.

Speaking at the congress of New Democracy’s youth organisation, the Prime Minister said that it was time to say clearly that, in order to protect the rights of society, one should override the rights of the minority and dodgers, occupying more and more space. Regarding ERT, Samaras said: "Citizens told us: make these major changes. Do you have the courage to do it? Do you have the political will? And now they have received a reply, we had an organisation that was a symbol of opacity and wastefulness and nobody could change ERT. Every time someone would try to change privileges, they would face the guild. We had an ERT full of scandals that people will learn about. Now the prosecutor has requested an investigation of ERT. This ERT is a harlot. This is the end of privileges, opacity and wasteful practices. Since without such initiatives, the country will be lost. And you must show people that you have the courage and strength to face the guild and privileges." Samaras also said that changes would continue and added that a solution could be found, so that ERT would start working again.

Analysing the situation regarding the public television, in an article for the Kathimerini newspaper, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said:

"The time has come to talk about the real problem, which is certainly not ERT! Since it lost people’s respect a long time ago! Those who are mourning over it today reviled it as insignificant and manipulated before that! And these revelations are now appearing, because today people are overturning the corrupted political system. Because they cannot stand its hypocrisy any longer!

Undoubtedly, the problem is not "public information." Because, very simply, there has not been any public information for a long time!

How could there have been public information, since ERT was constantly on... strike? Is there somebody who does not remember its "sudden" strikes at every important visit by a foreign leader who came to offer support to our country or when the leadership of the country went abroad in order to win the support of major countries? Can this constant strike be called ... the "public information" that the Greeks want and deserve? Do they defend it today, in a hypocritical recital?

Tags: Antonis Samaras Democratic Left New Democracy PASOK approval rating ERT closure
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