The 2025 barometer by GPO for Parapolitika 90.1 shows that the agricultural issue, which so far has led to failures in attempts at understanding between farmers and the government, represents a turning point. In the aftermath of the OPEKEPE scandal and witness testimonies, such as that of Giorgos Xylouris (frappé), the anger not only among farmers but throughout society as a whole is reflected in the GPO research. When asked what they believed was the most significant political event in Greece for the past year, 40.6% respond that it was the OPEKEPE scandal, placing it in first position. Following with 27.6% are the rallies for Tempi. Last year at this time, in the barometer for the biggest political event of 2024, the top issue with 44.1% was the SYRIZA split, which didn’t affect the government at all.
Farmer blockades create “wounds” for New Democracy
The OPEKEPE scandal, however, puts the party against one of its most important voter bases – the farmers – with the risk of causing dissatisfaction among other social groups who will lose income from the blockades if no solution is found. A characteristic example includes small hoteliers and restaurant business owners in winter destinations who during this period expect to make the largest part of their turnover and are seeing cancellations due to blockades on national highways coming one after another. In this climate, 85.1% answer “yes” and “probably yes” to the question of whether farmers’ demands are justified. At the same time, the majority considers the reactions of the agricultural community justified even when they include the closure of national highways. Specifically, in the relevant question, 64.8% answer “yes” and “probably yes” regarding whether farmers’ mobilizations are justified even with the closure of national highways.
Revealing findings from the GPO 2025 barometer
On the positive side for the government, the top two positions for political personalities of the year are occupied by Kyriakos Mitsotakis with 25.5% and Kyriakos Pierrakakis with 17.2%. They are followed by Alexis Tsipras with 16.3%, who is considered certain by most to establish his own political vehicle. This climate results in New Democracy losing 1.5 units in the last month in voting intention, having 23.7% compared to 25.2% it had the previous month. PASOK sees its percentage “needle” stable at 12.3% from 12.6% it had the previous month. Greek Solution is in third place with 10.1%, while Freedom Navigation sees its percentages rise again after a phase of decline from 5.8% in November to 8.5%. With these data, in Vote Estimation, New Democracy is at 28%, SYRIZA at 5%, PASOK at 14.6%, Greek Solution at 11.9%, KKE at 10%, Victory at 2.3%, Freedom Navigation at 10.1%, Voice of Reason at 2.7%, MeRA25 at 2.3%, New Left at 1.7%, Democracy Movement at 2.3%, and 9.1% records the choice of other parties.
