A slight uptick for New Democracy was recorded in the latest Pulse poll for SKAI, with the ruling party climbing half a percentage point above its July figures following the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF). Specifically, New Democracy rose to 30.5% in voter intention, while Alexis Tsipras’s ELAS (Greek Democratic Party) held steady in second place. PASOK also gained half a point, marginally narrowing the gap with Tsipras’s party in the battle for second place.
Pulse poll: New Democracy leads, Tsipras’s ELAS holds steady
According to the poll, New Democracy recorded 30.5% in voting intention — up from 30% — while Alexis Tsipras’s ELAS remained flat at July’s 17%. PASOK registered 12% in voting intention, while Greek Solution surged three points to claim fourth place at 8%.
Maria Karystianou’s party suffered a sharp three-point drop, falling to 5.5% and sliding to seventh place. By contrast, Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom) gained one point to sit in sixth place, behind KKE (Communist Party of Greece), which held steady at 7%. The poll suggests that Foni Logikis (Voice of Reason) (3.5%) and MeRA25 (3%) are both just clearing the parliamentary threshold, while SYRIZA gained half a point to reach 2.5% in voting intention.
In voting intention including all responses, New Democracy is recorded at 26.5%, up from 26% in the previous measurement shown in the data card, while ELAS sits in second place at 15%, unchanged from the previous poll.
PASOK follows with 10.5%, up from 10%, while Greek Solution stands at 7.5%, up from 7%. KKE is recorded at 6%, Plefsi Eleftherias at 5%, Elpida gia ti Dimokratia (Hope for Democracy) at 5%, and Foni Logikis at 3%. Further down, MeRA25 stands at 2.5% and SYRIZA at 2%. “Other” parties account for 4.5%, while 1.5% would spoil their ballot or abstain. Undecided voters and non-respondents amount to 11%, down from 11.5% in the previous measurement.
How many would vote for a Samaras party?
Pulse also attempted to gauge the potential voting base of a hypothetical “Samaras party” among current and former New Democracy voters. The results show significant potential appeal: combining “definitely yes” and “probably yes” responses, 32% of those who voted for the ruling party in 2023 but do not currently intend to vote for it again would consider supporting a Samaras-led party. However, his crossover appeal among those who still intend to vote for New Democracy remains very low.
Meanwhile, Greek-Turkish relations continue to be a persistent source of public anxiety. Some 54% of respondents say they are “quite to very concerned” about relations with Turkey — a figure that has remained above 50% in all recent polls: 56% in July, 55% in May, and 53% in March.
The Thessaloniki International Fair’s impact
Regarding Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s presence and proposals at the Thessaloniki International Fair, 32% expressed a positive opinion — with 16% answering “definitely positive” and another 16% “probably positive.” On the other hand, 54% evaluated his appearance negatively, with 16% saying “probably negative” and 38% “definitely negative.” Some 14% offered no opinion.
The gap between positive and negative assessments reflects a clear climate of dissatisfaction following the Prime Minister’s appearance in Thessaloniki, with more than one in two respondents taking a negative stance.
Similarly negative ratings were recorded for PASOK-Movement for Change leader Nikos Androulakis, with his overall negative rating also standing at 54%. A positive opinion was expressed by 25%, with 6% answering “definitely positive” and 19% “probably positive,” while 29% rated him “probably negative” and 25% “definitely negative.” Some 21% said they didn’t know or declined to answer. Here too, negative evaluations far outweigh positive ones, with a notably high share of respondents choosing not to take a position.
