Prorata’s June Pulse survey reflects a climate of social discontent that encompasses roughly two-thirds of the electorate. The feeling that the country is heading in the wrong direction remains dominant (70%) and is linked primarily to the economic pressure households are facing and to a widespread sense that the government’s performance on issues of transparency and justice is negative.
Within this context, the polling firm notes, a significant portion of the electorate has long held the view that there is no party or political leader exerting effective pressure on the government through opposition, reflecting the inability of a segment of the public to express themselves through existing political formations.
Thus, in this climate of reflection, two new political formations have emerged on the political scene: EL.A.S., led by Alexis Tsipras, and the Hope for Democracy party, led by Maria Karistianou. Indicative of the public demand for new players in the political arena is the finding that approximately 4 in 10 view the former prime minister’s return to active politics and Maria Karistianou’s involvement in political affairs as a positive development.
As for the perception surrounding Alexis Tsipras’s return to active political life, the prevailing view is that he is returning “more detached from society” (31%), followed by the view that he is reappearing “more politically mature” (19%) and, at lower percentages, the assessments that his return is accompanied by greater conciliatoriness (14%) as well as decisiveness (10%). Thus, the findings demonstrate that the former prime minister’s return to politics is accompanied by the coexistence of elements of political maturity with a strong sense of his growing distance from society.
At the same time, the two new parties base their initial strength on relatively defined audiences: ELAS within the broader spectrum of the pluralistic Left, and particularly among those who supported SYRIZA-PS in the previous elections, while Hope for Democracy is primarily among citizens for whom the distinction “Left” and “Right” no longer makes sense, or who abstained from the last elections.
However, the case of ELAS stands out, as it is the only party among all the parties that a significant portion of the electorate (27%) considers capable of effectively opposing the ruling party. At the same time, Alexis Tsipras ranks a clear second in the confidence index for the country’s prime minister, with 17%, trailing only Kyriakos Mitsotakis (26%).
At the same time, the prospect of a third term for Kyriakos Mitsotakis as prime minister appears to cause greater concern among the electorate (41%) compared to the possibility of a government formed under Alexis Tsipras (32%), while a significant portion of the public (24%) views both scenarios with equal reservation.
Finally, regarding the parties’ electoral influence, New Democracy remains dominant but at consistently low levels (24%). In second place, and with a significant lead over the other parties, is ELAS with 14.5%, followed by the Hope for Democracy initiative at 9.5%.
Now in fourth place, with a significant decline in its influence, is PASOK (8.5%), followed by the Greek Solution with 8%. The KKE receives 6% of the vote, while the Freedom Course, having suffered significant losses, stands at 3.5%.
The Voice of Reason (3.5%) and MeRA25 (3%) show relative stability, while SYRIZA-PS (2%), the party of Stefanos Kasselakis (1%), the New Left (1%), and the Niki party (0.5%).
