Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-03-07

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] NEW DEMOCRACY AHEAD IN EXIT POLLS

[02] CALM AND ORDERED ELECTIONS

[03] OPTIMISM BY PRESIDENT AND PARTY LEADERS

[04] GREEK CYPRIOTS, "NO" TO THE ANNAN PLAN

[01] NEW DEMOCRACY AHEAD IN EXIT POLLS

New Democracy is in the lead according to the exit polls announced at 19:00, followed by PASOK, the KKE, the Coalition of the Radical Left, LAOS, and DIKKI, although there was some differentiation in the order of the last two parties.

Specifically, the exit polls are as follows:

MRB

PASOK 39 - 41.5%

ND 45 47%

KKE 5.2 - 6.2%

Coalition 2.7 3.5%

DIKKI 1.3 2.2%

LAOS 1.8 2.9%

Metron-Analysis

PASOK 38.8 - 41.2%

ND 45.6 48%

KKE 5 6%

Coalition 2.8 3.6%

DIKKI 1.3 2.1%

LAOS 1.6 2.4%

ALCO

PASOK 38.5 41%

ND 44.5 47%

KKE 5 6%

Coalition 2.5 3.5%

DIKKI 1.2 2%

LAOS 1.8 2.8%

Opinion

PASOK 40 42%

ND 45.5 47.5%

KKE 5 6%

Coalition 2.7 3.2%

DIKKI 1 1.5%

LAOS 2 2.5%

KAPPA-Research

PASOK 40.2%

ND 45.5%

KKE 5.9%

Coalition 3.9%

DIKKI 1.6%

LAOS 2.1%

American Research

PASOK 40.5 42.5%

ND 44.5 46.5%

KKE 5 6%

Coalition 2.8 3.2%

DIKKI 1 1.5%

LAOS 2 2.5%

[02] CALM AND ORDERED ELECTIONS

The elections are being carried out throughout the country steadily, while some 9,800,000 have the right and obligation to vote for a new Parliament and a new government. The polls opened at 7am and will close at 7pm. Voters must bring with them their identity card or passport, while election booklets are no longer necessary. There are over 545,000 new voters participating in the elections. His satisfaction for the steady progress of the elections was expressed by the functioning Minister of the Interior. The results of the exit polls will be announced as soon as the polls close, while the first formal results will be announced at 22:30.

[03] OPTIMISM BY PRESIDENT AND PARTY LEADERS

His optimism that everything will go as planned was expressed by the President of the Republic Costis Stefanopoulos, who voted in Patra at 10:35 this morning. Regardless of the result, I am certain that everything will go well, stated Mr. Stefanopoulos to the press, immediately after casting his vote.

President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis was the first political leader to vote. Arriving at Thessaloniki's 410th electoral department in Agios Eleftherios at 08:20, where he was greeted by party supporters.

After voting, Mr. Karamanlis made the following statement to the press: Today is the celebration for our democracy. Today our citizens decide on the present and the future of our land and we have absolute confidence in their judgment.

A warm greeting was in store for President of PASOK Giorgos Papandreou upon his arrival in Larissa, where hundreds of members and supporters of the party were waiting for him to arrive in order to vote.

I came to Larissa, to the heart of the farmlands, to carry out my right, while I am a candidate both here and in Thessaloniki, and `voting is the highest right and duty of every citizen. We are all optimistic with this beautiful and sunny day and with all the enthusiasm around. My forecasts are very optimistic, the messages from all over Greece are very positive, we are moving towards a very optimistic result.

His optimism that the People's Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) will gain entry to the Parliament was expressed by the President of the party Giorgos Karatzaferis, who voted at 11:10 this morning. Already, before the closing of the polls, everyone is talking about the great surprise LAOS is going to make.

His certainty that DIKKI has won its dignity was expressed by party President Dimitris Tsovolas, immediately after voting at 11:15 today. We have been true to our soul for some time now. What is certain is that we have won our dignity and conscience. We are certain that from this point on the Greek people will decide, he stated to the press.

His hope that everything goes well was expressed by President of the Coalition of the Radical Left Nikos Constantopoulos, who cast his vote at 11:30 in Athens. Mr. Constantopoulos stated to the press that: Voting for the Coalition of the Radical Left is a vote of conscience and hope in society for a different Greece. It is at the simultaneously a resistance to neoliberal, conservative, bipartisan policies. And it is a force of unity for a major party of the Left I hope everything goes well.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis voted this morning at 11:30 in Piraeus, where he pointed out that in today's elections we are deciding on tomorrow and on the way major domestic and foreign policy issues are going to be handled.

The elections are being carried out all over Greece normally. I call all citizens to carry out their right to vote, as is the law. We have a beautiful sunny day, it will not only be useful it will also be pleasant, he stated to the press, adding: Today we are deciding on tomorrow, we are deciding on the handling of issues related to the economy, the Cyprus issue, Greek Turkish relations and the Olympic Games. Greece needs progress. It needs progress with security, progress with experience and knowledge.

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Papariga referred to the struggles her party will carry out beginning tomorrow, after voting at 12 noon in Nikea.

Upon leaving the electoral department Mrs. Papariga made the following statement: Starting on Monday we have struggles ahead of us and that requires a tough KKE and a strong united front of workers and employees, in the city and in the countryside, of the radical powers who are not suited by plutocracy, Brussels and NATO.

[04] GREEK CYPRIOTS, "NO" TO THE ANNAN PLAN

The majority of Greek Cypriots would reject the Annan proposal for the resolving of the Cyprus issue if the referendum for its approval was carried out today, as was revealed by the opinion polls carried out by the Fileleftheros, Politis and Simerini newspapers.

Specifically, according to the Ray Consultants opinion poll carried out for the Fileleftheros newspaper, 62% of the citizens would reply negatively to the referendum, while 24% would answer yes.

It should be noted however, that the percentage changes only if the President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, the Greek government, and each voter's party encourage the people to vote in favor of the plan.

Also, the vast majority of the voters are pessimistic regarding the resolving of the Cyprus problem, with 63% appreciating that the negotiations underway will not lead to a solution.

Security and human rights

Furthermore, 31% of citizens consider the issue of security as the most important factor in case a solution is reached. The viability of the plan is considered most important by 25% and respect of human rights follows.

The AC Nielsen poll carried out for the Politis newspaper found that 53% would vote against the plan, while 19% would vote in favor. Also, 82% agrees with the way President Papadopoulos has handled matters so far, while 9% disagrees and 9% did not answer.

Finally, according to the poll of Intercollege Reasearch and Development Center, carried out for the Simerini newspaper, 54% would reject the Annan proposal, while 11% would vote yes.

At the same time 40.8% believes that the plan favors Turkish Cypriots, 20.5% that it favors Turkey, while only 0.8% believe that it favors the Greek Cypriot side.

Also, 12.4% stated that it could, in case a solution is reached, live under a Turkish Cypriot administration, while 89% expressed an intense concern with the remaining Turkish settlers in Cyprus after the solution.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article