4 out of 10 Greeks disappointed with all political parties

Four out of ten Greek citizens were disappointed with all political parties and supported the idea of the formation of a new "national unity" government to lead Greece out of the debt crisis, a survey released on Sunday showed.

In the first opinion poll conducted after the September 20 early general elections, the results indicated an escalating disgruntlement of Greeks over the stance of all political parties participating in the new parliament.

If elections were held today, the ruling Radical Left SYRIZA party of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would garner 18.4 percent of votes, according to the survey of Kappa Research which was carried out for Sunday's "Vima" (Tribune) newspaper.

SYRIZA won the September snap elections with 35.5 percent down from 36.3 percent it garnered when first coming to power in January 2015.

Amidst a bitter party leadership race the main opposition conservative New Democracy party would win 14.9 percent of votes down from 28.1 percent it garnered in September.

In case national elections were held this weekend in Greece, the far-Right Golden Dawn party would remain the third largest party in the assembly collecting 5.6 percent of the votes down from the 7 percent it won in the last electoral battle.

The socialists of the Democratic Coalition (PASOK and Democratic Left) would follow with 4.5 percent (down from 6.3 percent won in the September polls) and the Communist Party KKE with 4.4 percent of the vote (down from 5.6 percent).

The new parliament would include five parties instead of the current seven. SYRIZA's junior coalition partner the Right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL), the centrist Potami party and the Union of Centrists would not secure the three percent threshold to enter the assembly, according to Kappa Research's survey.

About 18.2 percent of participants in the poll said they would abstain from a new vote, while 15.6 percent said they were undecided.

Forty percent of respondents clearly distanced themselves from all political parties and by the same percentage participants in the opinion poll said that the only way forward in their point of view was the formation of a "national unity" government.

Scenarios of the possible formation of such a government in coming weeks have circulated in Greek media lately after the ruling coalition's majority in the 300-member assembly was reduced to 153 MPs in the latest vote ten days ago on prior actions to secure more international loans.

As deputies will face more votes on painful austerity and reform measures in December and the upcoming new year, there was concern over the stability of the current coalition.

Should the current government lost its parliamentary majority, 37.8 percent of respondents in Vima's poll said that Tsipras should try to form a national unity government with the participation of the conservatives.

Another 23.5 percent of respondents said he should cooperate with centrist parties like PASOK, Potami and the Centrists Union, while 25.8 percent said that the Premier should resign and call new elections.

A meeting of political leaders of parties represented in parliament held this weekend upon Tsipras' request showed that there was lack of consensus between the government and opposition parties on several keys issues, such as the refugee crisis and the social security system reform.

Sources: XINHUA