Greek government dips in polls amid TV licensing row

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS

Greece’s ruling coalition is facing fresh unpopularity after polls commissioned amid a controversial TV-licensing auction showed serious dissatisfaction with the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

A poll by the University of Macedonia on behalf of private channel Skai TV revealed over 85 percent of respondents was unhappy with the SYRIZA-Independent Greeks partnership.

The government -- which earlier this week launched auctions four private broadcast licenses -- claimed to have won a victory against “corrupt broadcasters” in the troubled media sector.

TV outlets left without one of the expensive licenses -- now four, down from seven previously -- will have to go off the air.

Political analyst George Kratsas told Anadolu Agency that the poll results could prompt the ruling parties to consider early elections.

“The government could therefore conclude that this the best context in which to call general elections and to achieve the best possible outcome for the two governing parties before its performance in the polls deteriorates even further.

“If it chooses to delay calling elections even further, SYRIZA could risk returning to its previous single-digit levels thus jeopardizing its future prospects of ever returning to government.

“At the same time, ANEL [Independent Greeks] could risk falling below the threshold for parliamentary representation, set at three percent of the national vote.”

All this comes at a critical time for Greece, which has been facing a huge refugee crisis. The leftist government has been criticized for its handling of the situation amid unpopular reforms and cuts which have left many erstwhile supporters unhappy.

However political researcher Ioannis Mantzikos told Anadolu Agency that “Tsipras has proven to be a survivor and a master tactician. Therefore it is unlikely to call elections that he knows he will possibly lose.”