Majority of Greeks voice pessimism over post-bailout era: poll

by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Greeks have voiced pessimism over the prospects of the economy in the post-bailout era, according to the latest opinion survey released this weekend.

In the survey carried out for Action 24 television, about 75 percent of respondents said that they do not believe the economic and social policies to be implemented this summer after the end of the third Greek bailout program will improve the situation of the average Greek household and business.

Meanwhile, only 23.9 percent of respondents said they expect substantial changes after Greece exits the bailouts after eight years.

Should national elections were held this Sunday, about 29.4 percent of Greeks, according to the survey, would vote for the main opposition conservative New Democracy party and 19.2 percent for the ruling Radical Left SYRIZA.

The Movement of Change, a new coalition of centre- Left parties including the socialists of PASOK and the River, would rank third with 10.2 percent.

The ultra-Right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party would follow with 7.2 percent and the Greek Communist Party with 6.3 percent would be the last party securing the 3 percent threshold needed to enter the new parliament.

The current government's term ends in September 2019. Enditem