Most Greeks want stay in eurozone to overcome crisis: survey

The vast majority of Greeks want a leaner public sector, fewer taxes and Greece's stay in the eurozone to overcome the seven-year debt crisis, according to a survey released on Sunday.

Some 62.4 percent of participants in the poll conducted nationwide by the Athens-based Dianeosis think tank called for the shrinking of the public sector, according to Kathimerini (Daily) newspaper that published the results.

A total of 73.2 percent of respondents believe that the government should give incentives to attract investments and boost exports to achieve economic recovery.

Some 38.9 percent of Greeks see tax evasion as a "legitimate defense" against over taxation, while 71.1 percent do not believe that the state will manage to combat tax dodging, despite efforts made.

Most Greeks (62.1 percent) acknowledge that the Greek debt crisis was mostly the result of Greece's shortcomings.

The survey showed that euro skepticism is strong. The 57.3 percent of respondents believe that the European Union (EU) won more from Greece's membership and only 29.6 percent said that Greece benefited more.

However, some 59.6 percent of Greeks want Greece's stay in the European common currency zone, while 33.1 percent said they preferred return to drachma.

Dianeosis noted that in April 2015 during a similar survey carried out by the think tank 73.9 percent supported the country's stay in the eurozone and 20.7 percent the return to the national currency. Endit