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Tuesday, 16 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-02-27Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Latest poll gives ND 5.9% lead over rival PASOKRuling New Democracy (ND) continued to hold its lead over main opposition PASOK in the latest opinion poll unveiled by an Athens daily, garnering 39.2 percent of respondents' preference to 33.3 percent for PASOK.In terms of other parties, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was preferred by 6.7 percent of respondents; 3.1 was the result for the out-of-Parliament LA.OS party; 3 percent for the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) and 2.2 for other parties. Exactly 8.5 percent answered "don't know/won't answer" A similar poll by another research firm this week showed a 4-point lead for ND over PASOK. Results of the latest poll, published in the Sunday edition of the daily "Eleftheros Typos", showed that 71.5 percent of respondents believe ND will win the next elections; 15.2 percent answered PASOK, while 12.3 percent of respondents answered "don't know/won't answer". On the question of "who is most capable as prime minister" -- a standing question of most pollsters in Greece -- Premier Costas Karamanlis holds a roughly 20-point lead (48.1 percent) over his rival, PASOK leader and former foreign minister George Papandreou, who garnered 28.6 percent of respondents' preferences. Asked to judge the premier's performance in the almost 12 months since he assumed the premiership, 54.1 percent of respondents opted for a positive or probably positive rating; 27.2 percent gave him a negative or probably negative rating, and 18.4 percent were neutral in their opinion. [02] Top ND Euro-MP calls for end to 'attitude of corruption cultivated over the past 20 years'Former high-ranking minister and current New Democracy Euro-deputy Ioannis Varvitsiotis on Friday cited a need for the state to "stop an attitude of corruption that has been cultivated over the past 20 years, one that ridicules institutions and the rules of law," a more-or-less sharp and direct criticism of past PASOK governments.Varvitsiotis made the comments during an event at the Old Parliament building entitled "Institutions in Greek society and the role of politics today", organized by the Constantine Karamanlis Institute of Democracy, a non-profit Athens-based think tank named in honor of ND founder and Greek statesman Karamanlis. Varvitsiotis said an ongoing crisis in the judiciary, replete with numerous allegations of corruption is far worse that the furor regarding graft and sleaze within the Church's ranks, as the former affects all of society. [03] PASOK's Papandreou speaks at congress of Serbia's Democratic PartyBELGRADE (ANA) -- Main opposition leader George Papandreou on Sunday arrived here over the weekend to participate as an official guest at the congress of the Democratic Party of Serbia.In a brief address to congress delegates, Papandreou praised the role of the Democratic Party and its president, Boris Tadic, in reforming and bolstering democracy in the country. "We want Serbia to become a member of the European family. We want to help you and we will help you create conditions for secure development and stability in the region, and with Serbia and Montenegro in the European family," Papandreou said, adding: "The European community will be much improved with Serbia and Montenegro." [04] Christodoulos remains steadfast in the face of criticism, calls on faithful to rally around ChurchArchbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos on Sunday appeared unflinching in his determination to ride out an ongoing and unprecedented corruption crisis enveloping the Church of Greece's top hierarchy, days after his closely watched television interview and amid cries from some quarters demanding his resignation."If those battling us (the Church) think I will resign or that I will stop speaking out they are deeply mistaken," Christodoulos told an enthusiastic congregation of worshippers at a cathedral in the Athens district of Kallithea on Sunday morning. Christodoulos himself has come under intense scrutiny for his alleged ties to a fugitive felon (Apostolos Vavylis) who apparently was involved over the past decade in activities ranging from drug smuggling to selling equipment to Greek police to opaque missionary activity in southern Italy to even working within the inner circle of associates of Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos -- especially in the run-up to the latter's election to the Orthodox throne of the Holy Land in 2001. Irineos, himself at the centre of a multi-million dollar legal entanglement with an Israeli company and with accumulated allegations of financial mismanagement hanging over the Jerusalem Patriarchate, last week belatedly claimed that Christodoulos sent Vavylis to Jerusalem prior to his (Irineos') election in September 2001, a claim flatly denied by the outspoken head of the Church of Greece. Back in Athens, Christodoulos on Sunday reiterated that the Greek people remain the most pious in Europe, something he said may bother certain circles. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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