Athens B

[Updated 8.45 p.m.]

Thousands of farmers with over 200 tractors from across Greece have assembled before Parliament on Syntagma Square over the impact of rising energy costs, competition from abroad and recent flooding.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias is considered the most successful government minister (32%), according to the second part of a poll conducted by Alco on behalf of Alpha TV.

He is followed by the ministers of education, Kyriakos Pierrakakis (12%), citizen protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis (10%), health, Adonis Georgiades (8%), and finance, Kostis Hatzidakis (4%).

A second opinion poll in as many days as indicated that main opposition SYRIZA is less than two points ahead of third-place socialist PASOK, while ruling New Democracy remains way ahead.

Conservative New Democracy enjoys a 21.5 percentage point over its main rival, leftist SYRIZA, according to a new opinion poll.

Conducted by Marc for ANT1, the poll put New Democracy on 39.5% and SYRIZA on 18%.

Conservative New Democracy enjoys a 20.3 percentage point over its main rival, leftist SYRIZA, according to a new opinion poll.

Conducted by Marc for ANT1, the poll put New Democracy on 38.5% and SYRIZA on 18.2%.

PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis emphasized again on Thursday that the party is not interested in forming a coalition with ruling New Democracy, "even if two or three seats are needed to form a government." 

A large number of veteran politicians, former ministers and celebrities from the arts, sports and journalistic fields failed at the final hurdle on Sunday as voters turned their backs on them.

Greece's leftists will receive an official mandate on Tuesday to form a coalition government after an inconclusive national election, but are expected to seek a second vote instead.

The conservative New Democracy party romped to victory with 40.8% of the vote in Sunday's poll which sent the leftist SYRIZA into a tailspin after taking 20.1% of the vote.

Greek Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis greets supporters after announcing the first results of the Greek elections at the party's HQ in Athens, 21 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGE VITSARAS

Two opinion polls published just hours before an election silence kicks in put New Democracy ahead of main opposition SYRIZA by 6.5 and 5 percentage points, respectively.

A Pulse poll for SKAI gave New Democracy a 6.5-point lead over SYRIZA while an MRB poll for OPEN TV put conservatives 5 points ahead.