Exit poll: SYRIZA trails ND by 7 percentage points in Europarliament election

By George Gilson

An exit poll from today's European Parliament elections in Greece gives main opposition New Democracy a seven percentage point lead over ruling SYRIZA.

The exit poll was conducted by a consortium of Greek polling companies comprised of Alco, Marc, Metron Analysis and MRB. It was released at 7pm Greek time, two hours before the polls closed.

The poll gives ND precisely a seven percentage point lead over SYRIZA when one compares both the two leading parties' maximum percentages and their minimum percentages.
When one compares SYRIZA's maximum percentage with New Democray's the minimum spread is three percentage points.
If one compares the projection for New Democracy's maximum percentage with SYRIZA's minimum projected percentage ND garners an eleven percentage point lead.

The exit poll results, if confirmed, would be a clear-cut strategic victory for the conservative party, as both Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis had framed the election as a vote of confidence in the government.

It also signals the end of Tsipras' undisputed political hegemony on the domestic political stage.

The looming question now is whether the PM will call a general election immediately or wait until October when his term ends in an effort to turn the tide.

Greece's credits have already begun expressing consternation over the economic stimulus package announce by Tsipras on 8 May, which they fear would derail the economy and fiscal targets with its benefits and tax cuts.

These are the first nationwide elections in Greece since September, 2015, when SYRIZA won its second general election in one year.

That was one month after Parliament passed the third bailout memorandum...