2024-07-17 16:33:21
A new national survey by Prorata, which examines the attitude of Greeks to the results of the recent elections in France and the United Kingdom, draws some useful conclusions for Greek parties.
In the survey, conducted on a sample of 800 people between July 10-12, 2024, that is, immediately after the second round of the French elections on July 7, the majority of Greeks consider the French elections more important at 56% , i. contrast with 5% of those who prefer the British as the most important. However, for almost 4 out of 10, the two electoral contests have the same political weight.
The main feelings of Greek respondents about the result of the election in France are relief (24%), anger (12%), indifference (12%) and hope (11%). However, according to the results of the research, the feeling of anger is the one mainly found in the right-wing voters.
“The left clearly feels feelings of relief, hope and optimism. In the same sentiments as the other extreme, the extreme right has very small percentages” says professor emeritus of Political Sciences at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Michalis Spourdalakis.
“Relief prevails, but it is an emotion that does not last,” explains Kostas Eleftheriou, Assistant Professor of Political and Historical Sociology, at the Department of Political Science at the University of Demokriteio Thrace.
“Hope and satisfaction are lower and the left and center-left are divided among them,” says Mr. Eleftheriou, who emphasizes that “the right wingers feel angry because they wanted higher percentages for the far right” Mr. Spourdalakis also agrees. with .
“So it seems that the same feelings and trends have been created in Greece as the polarization and groups that exist in France. This is very important” says Mr. Spourdalakis, which does not seem to escape the attention of Mr. Eleftheriou either: “we do not see big differences, in Greece and in France” says the scientist at the Democritus University .
The choices of the Greek respondents regarding the political force that France should control are interesting, but also of concern to experts. 35% prefer the left-wing coalition People’s New Front, exactly the same percentage wants Macron “Together” and 23% of Greeks want the National Rally to rule France.
According to Mr. Chrysogelos, the 35% in the New People’s Front shows that there is demand in Greece for the left, but the political vehicle is not yet there. However, Mr. Eleftheriou notes the same: “The 35% shows that there is space, it is enough to find the content to express it”.
When analyzing the political spaces preferred by those who were located which French political force they prefer, the voters of SYRIZA (84%), KKE (75%) and PASOK (39%) prefer the New People’s Front.
What has not escaped the attention of Greek experts is that PASOK is divided. That is, while 39% look to the left (New Popular Front), 48% prefer Macron’s coalition, ie centre-right. Although the distribution of political forces and convergence is expected for Mr. Eleftheriou, what worries him is the attitude of PASOK voters. “PASOK’s base is divided but it is more right-wing as it goes. This 39% and 48% in PASOK also raises questions about how the current leadership of the party and the various leadership candidates have been talking about the New People’s Front in the vehicle of left-center-left cooperation.”
“This also shows the problem of PASOK’s strategy,” says Mr. Chrysogelos, “that it has not yet been fundamentally decided whether it will be a centrist social democratic party that will move in the constellation of centrist management, or whether it will It’s a center-left or left-wing solution. Basically, this question is also being asked about the PASOK leadership.”
Of course, for Mr. Lavdas, the 48% “Pasokian sympathy” for the Macronists is considered “reasonably complete”. “It could be higher. It shows that you prefer something that in order to choose it and say that you are a socialist of the Pasok type, you must have a more comprehensive understanding of Macron’s coalition, or if you do not go to the People’s Front”, emphasized the Mr. Lavdas.
Mr. Eleftheriou, however, recognizes that there is also a problem in the area of the KKE. It is interesting that 75% of the KKE voters are in favor of the New People’s Front, despite the fact that the KKE itself stated in official evaluations of the French election result that it is no longer a development in favor of the people, etc.
This view does not seem to have much penetration in the party’s base. There is a long way, the professor at the University of Democritus considers.
Of particular interest to Mr Spourdalakis and Lavdas is the fact that 16% of ND voters prefer Le Pen, each for a different reason being a problem with the ND.
Michalis Spourdalakis considers that 16% is not a small percentage at all. “Based on the national elections of 2023, 7% of the strength of the ND supports Le Pen” he emphasizes, saying that “here you have a hidden dynamic and at least the acceptance of the extreme right, agenda, symbols, etc.”
Interpreting this high 16% of the new democrats who like Le Pen, Mr. Lavdas considers that “this bogeyman of the real right is a stereotypical view that does not fully represent”.
Finally, from the point of view of racial and sociological characteristics, it seems that, in favor of the left, it is important that those with a university education (38%) and more women (45% favor the People’s Front New) on the side.
Finally, while 56% believe that the rise of the Far Right threatens Europe, 33% are not very concerned.
Diminished interest in the British election
“Although only 2% consider that the British elections have been discussed more by the Greek media, nevertheless the percentage of interest is proportionally higher than what the media spends, as 38% say that the two elections are equally equally important,” he says.
For Mr Spourdalakis, there is a superficial treatment of what is happening in the UK. “In England we have a government that was elected with 33%, the lowest in the history of the United Kingdom, well, that was the ‘victory’ of Labour” explains the Political Scientist at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Mr. Lavdas presents an additional factor – beyond politics – that explains why the French elections were broadcast more. This happened because “the whole process took longer, not only because it was in two rounds, but also because the process of forming a government is very difficult. The British elections showed less but it was a very clear majority process”, in other words “it was institutionalized, the thing was clearer” says the professor at Panteio.
Regarding the British election result, the vast majority of Greek respondents (75%) believe that Labor will benefit British society and 62% consider that the victory of Keir Starmer’s party is a good development for the relationship between Greece and Britain.
However, only 35% consider Labour’s victory on the Cyprus Question to be a positive development.
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