Greece's ruling party, New Democracy, maintains a lead in voter support in northern Greece, a poll conducted by polling firm "tothepoint" on behalf of Voria.gr has shown. However, the potential emergence of new political formations could significantly reshape the opposition landscape, according to the poll results.
Matching its nationwide performance in other polls, the right-of-centre governing party secures 22.9% in voting intention across northern Greece before any statistical weighting. The survey, based on a sample of 1,224 respondents across Central, Western, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, has a 2.55% margin of error.
Behind the ruling party, the political field appears fragmented. The social-democratic PASOK, traditionally Greece's strongest opposition party, ranks second with 10.8%, closely followed by far-right Greek Solution at 10.2%. Course of Freedom comes fourth with 6%, while SYRIZA and the Communist Party trail at 4.3% and 4.1% respectively. Notably, undecided voters remain high at 16.9%, with a further 5.9% stating they would abstain.
Respondents were asked to consider the possible emergence of three new parties linked to prominent political figures Alexis Tsipras, Antonis Samaras, and Maria Karystianou, the mother of one of the 2023 Tempi rail disaster victims. The findings revealed a volatile opposition landscape in northern Greece, where the new formations could reshuffle voter loyalties without significantly undermining the ruling party's dominance.
In this scenario, support for New Democracy remains steady at around 22%, with a resilient voter base. Below that, however, the landscape shifts, with a potential Karystianou-led party rising to second place with 11.9%, pushing PASOK into third. The data indicates that Karystianou attracts heavily from undecided voters, whose share decreases from 16.9% to 8.9%, as well as from those who previously intended not to vote. A potential Tsipras party reaches 7.4%.
The survey also highlights notable shifts in the popularity of political leaders, including those who have yet to formally launch parties. Maria Karystianou records the strongest public image in northern Greece, with combined positive and rather positive views reaching 41% of respondents and comparatively low negative perceptions at 49.7%. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis follows with 32.2%, registering the highest share of positive opinions at 18.4%, but also facing significant overall negativity at 64.4%. By contrast, Alexis Tsipras records the weakest standing, with 77.4% negative or rather negative views and just 19% positive sentiment.
On foreign policy, respondents show firm positions. Around 63.8% approve of the government's decision to deploy F16 fighter jets and frigates to Cyprus. At the same time, 45.5% believe that Donald Trump's stance makes Greece's national issues more difficult, while only 9.3% see it as beneficial. Opinions are more divided regarding Greece's close cooperation with Israel: 37.8% view it positively, while 31% view it negatively.
Domestically, the cost of living emerges as the most pressing concern for northern Greeks at 45.9%, followed by infrastructure and road networks at 32.4%. Other key issues include weak economic growth, unemployment, and social services, as well as demographic decline and rural depopulation. A majority of respondents, 56.6%, favour stricter migration policies, while 64.7% view negatively the rising trend of property purchases in northern Greece by foreign buyers, including Balkan and Turkish investors.
By Tasos Tasioulas - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
