Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-11-06

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] ND holds 2.4 pct lead over PASOK, RASS opinion poll says

[01] ND holds 2.4 pct lead over PASOK, RASS opinion poll says

According to the poll, conducted between October 31 and November 2, the respondents consider PASOK to blame for the bad state of the economy, and ND for negative developments in the national issues, whereas they also said that the mass media back the main opposition party more than the government.

More specifically, with respect to intended vote (how the respondents would vote if general elections were held tomorrow), New Democracy led by 2.4 percentage points over PASOK, with 32.9 percent for the ruling power against 30.5 percent for the main opposition party. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) amassed 6.1 percent of the respondents' preference, and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) 2.9 percent, while the Popular Orthodox Rally party (LAOS), which is currently not represented in parliament, garnered 4.2 percent. Another 1.9 percent said they would vote for another party, while 21.5 percent said they were undecided or would cast blank ballots.

Regarding who was the most suitable for prime minister, current premier Costas Karamanlis amassed 46 percent, holding an 18.9 percentage point lead over main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, who amassed 27.1 percent, followed by LAOS leader George Karatzaferis with 5.8 percent, KKE leader Aleka Papariga with 3.0 percent, and SYN leader Alekos Alavanos with 2.2 percent, while 15.9 percent did not reply.

Also, 49.8 percent of the respondents believe that PASOK is to blame for the present state of the economy, while 40.9 percent feel that ND is to blame.

In addition, 42.9 percent consider ND to be more responsible over the negative developments in the national issues, against 30.8 percent that hold PASOK responsible.

Further, 35.5 percent believe that the situation in the country would have been worse if PASOK had won the last general elections, while 27.5 percent believe the situation would have been better, and 33.8 percent believe the situation would have been the same as now.

To another question, 45.8 percent consider PASOK to be more responsible for the phenomena of corruption that continue to exist today, while 34.4 percent consider ND to be more responsible, while 3.6 percent put the blame on other parties, and 16.2 percent did not reply.

To a question on which party has 'better relations' with the so-called special interests, 38.1 percent said PASOK, and 37.9 percent said ND, while 0.7 percent said the KKE, 0.2 percent said SYN, and 1.3 percent said another party, whereas 19.6 percent said the did not know.

An overwhelming 97.2 percent of the respondents believe that scandals took place under PASOK's term in government, of which 71.6 percent believe that the then government did not want to refer the scandals to justice, while 21.5 percent believe that there was not enough evidence.

According to 59.1 percent of the respondents, the field of politics has the biggest relationship to special interests, while 26 percent said the justice sector, and 10 percent said the press sector. At the same time, 44.4 percent believe that the phenomenon of corruption was more intense in the political sector, 27.1 percent in the public sector, 15.2 percent in the justice sector, and 8.6 percent in the media sector.

Commenting on the stance of the mass media, 44.9 percent of the respondents believe that the media exaggerates the incidents of corruption, 36 percent that it conceals the incidents of corruption in accordance with their own interests, and 18 percent that the media is correctly presenting the incidents of corruption, while 1.1 percent did not reply.

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