The trip of Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, lasted only 15 minutes. Shortly after taking off from Elefsina military airport, the Greek Number One Air Force showed some technical breakdown in the flight system, the pilots decided to take the Samaras and his assistants back to the starting point.
Technicians checks did not clear the prime-ministerial Embraer for a safe flight to Azerbaijan.
Antonis Samaras could not but cancel his visit to Baku where he was expected to take part to the event for the signature of the commencement of TAP Natural Gas Pipeline and the gas field Shah Deniz 2.
During the visit Samaras would also discuss the issue of privatization of Greek natural Gas System Operator DESFA to be acquired by Azeri SOCAR. Samaras was to discuss with local stakeholders the issue, after the European Commission put obstacles to the deal delaying it for up to a year.
Public Opinion Polls
This Monday seems to be a rather bad day for the Greek Prime Minister anyway. According to the latest public opinion poll conducted by MRB, main opposition party left-wing SYRIZA not only does it leads with 21.9% towards Samaras’s Nea Dimocratia, 21%, respondents believe that SYRIZA will also win the next elections with 39.6% (ND 34.7%). A third unwelcome surprise for Samaras is that may lead in the question “who is the most suitable PM” but Alexi Tsipras has sucessfully increased his rates.
Third party in the preference of Greeks remain the right-extremists of Golden Dawn with 8.9%, followed by Communist ΚΚΕ 5%, nationalists Independent Greeks 4,8%, socialist PASOK 4,7% (current Samaras coalition government partner), Democratic Left 3.1% – the former Samara’s coalition partner might not even manage to enter the Parliament.
In another recent poll, SYRIZA was leading with 21.2%, while ND was getting just 20%.
No wonder SYRIZA leads in polls. Asked to name the issues to which the government should give priority, respondents replied:
- 85.9% Unemployment decrease
- 79.2% Protection of citizens’ income
- 78.1% Ensure public health and provide adequate level of public health for the citizens
Unfortunately, neither Nea Dimocratia nor its partner PASOK can fulfill any of these expectations that haunt the Greek citizens.
The MRB poll was conducted 2-11 December 2013.
