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For the first time since the elections on 25 January the negative attitudes among Greeks on the government's strategy in the negotiations with the creditors are exceeding the positive ones. A poll carried out by the Economic University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki on behalf of the Greek SKAI TV reports a decline in the popularity of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras too. Nevertheless, SYRIZA is still the most preferred party with a wide margin over New Democracy.

41% of respondents believe that Athens’ strategy in the negotiations with the creditors is wrong and 35% that the actions of the cabinet are in the right direction. This is a significant change considering that in February 72% of Greeks approved the position of the cabinet and only 22.5% did not agree with it.

At the same time, the majority of Greeks or 61% think that the government will have to step back from its pre-election promises because of the current economical situation. The percentage of those who insist that SYRIZA should remain firmly behind them and keep them is 35% whereas that of the Greeks who believe that the government seems committed to keep all of its pre-election promises is 39%.

The poll also shows that the majority of Greeks are confused about the government's actions if it fails to come to agreement with the creditors. 30% are of the opinion that the agreement should be submitted for voting in parliament, 28% support the option of holding a referendum and 27% want a government of national unity to be formed.

The contingent course of the negotiations with the creditors has affected Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ popularity that is 50% at present whereas 70% of Greeks supported him just two months ago.

However, SYRIZA is still the first political force in Greece and with a wide margin over New Democracy at that, namely 21%. The government has the support of 36.5% of Greeks and New Democracy of 15.5%. Potami and Golden Dawn rank third with 6%, the Communist Party of Greece is fourth with 4% and Independent Greeks and PASOK are very close to falling below the threshold for a party to enter parliament with a rate of 3%.

The support for Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis continues to be high, the proof of this being the fact that when asked whether the attitude of his European colleagues at the last meeting of the Eurogroup made a good or bad impression on them, 51.5%  of respondents answer bad and 36% good.