Category Archives: Newspapers & Magazines

Political scene at crucial turning point-Three significant developments define the new political landscape

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The sudden deterioration of the political and social climate is inevitably accelerating developments. Without exception, all the relevant indices of the Barometer registered an impressive change, while the respective percentages in most cases constitute new historical levels. The magnitude of social pessimism prevailing can now be seen more clearly following the…

Political scene in a tangle – Immigration having a significant impact

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The continuing (for the 7th straight month) decline in the ruling party’s vote estimate (-0.5% relative to January) has thrown the political scene into something of a tangle. And this, despite the fact that the party retains a significant lead. As has been pointed out in the past, though without being…

Government attempts to ‘sally forth’, despite loss of support

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The return to the daily political ‘routine’ of handling the economic crisis in the aftermath of the November local and regional elections has been very rapid. Despite the considerable weakening of the rul-ing party’s electoral support, as recorded – just one month ago – in the elections, perhaps in response to…

Greek regional elections of 7 November 2010

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The poll result of 7 November may prove to be a watershed in the history of elections in Greece since the restoration of democracy in 1974 and a turning point in the process of transition from the traditional two-party system of the past decades to a new type of ‘bipolarity’. The…

The message from the local and regional elections of 7 November

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* Today’s election result will provide a very clear indication, not only of the relative strength of Greece’s political parties one year after the most recent parliamentary elections and six months after the signing of the Memorandum, but also – and above all – of the extent and depth of the disintegration…

Party system at crucial turning point

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* One year after the socialist PASOK party came to power, and six months after the adoption of the Memorandum, serious cracks have appeared in the ruling party’s electoral base and the image of George Papandreou. The monthly survey conducted by Public Issue reveals the lowest percentage of electoral support for the…

Political impact of the recent reshuffle

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* Cabinet reshuffles have very rarely had any significant impact on the image of and social support for governments in Greece since the restoration of democracy in 1974, especially when they do not signal a change in policy. This general rule appears to be confirmed by the recent reshuffle. The general impression…

Ten months of PASOK governance

Comparative evaluation of the government’s performance in various policy areas and its ministers Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The first three months of implementation of the measures set out in the Memorandum[1] coincides with the completion of 10 months of PASOK governance. The significant decline in government support stemming from social discontent, in an extremely short…

Party system coming under increasing pressure, as social protest moves toward abstention

Findings of Public Issue’s July Barometer Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The significant social and political developments that are currently in full swing are clearly reflected in Public Issue’s July Barometer. The negative performance of the ruling party and the prime minister has heightened uncertainty about political developments, but also about the endurance of the present…

Corruption and crisis of confidence in governance

Analysis by YIANNIS MAVRIS* The present crisis of trust in governance could be described as structural. Moreover, it attests to a crisis of representation that is unprecedented since the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974. Half of society (52%) either never (or almost never) trust governments in Greece, while 4 in 10 (40%) do…