Intl media cite continued but slipping lead by Tsipras, SYRIZA

Greece’s snap elections on Sept. 20 and an apparent slump in the ratings of previously unassailable radical leftist leader Alexis Tsipras continued to generate foreign press coverage at the beginning of the week.

AFP noted that “..with just three weeks to go before Greece’s snap elections, analysts say charismatic ex-premier Alexis Tsipras remains popular with an electorate determined to stay in the euro — even if it means more painful austerity.”

The French agency reports that recent polls show Tsipras in first place and his radical SYRIZA ahead of main rival New Democracy, “by between 1 and 3.5 points.”

According to the “Daily Rover”, Tsipras is banking on his “popularity to win a national election next month and strengthen his grip on power after purging his radical left Syriza party of dissenters. Many political analysts believe that as the political jostling heats up ahead of the Sept 20 vote it appears increasingly likely that Tsipras will have to form a new more unwieldy coalition government possibly with as many as three parties.”

Of course, “strengthening” one grip on power in a three-party coalition could be considered an oxymoron.

The column noted that “Tsipras called for elections last week to rid his party of rebels who had refused to back the bailout deal he agreed with Greece’s bailout creditors.”

Veteran Guardian correspondent in Athens Helena was more precise, citing that the flurry of recent opinion polls to clearly point to the loss in support SYRIZA, something she said suprised Tsipras and his “new-found allies in EU capitals…”

“Backing for SYRIZA has not only fallen among the party’s own constituency, it has dropped precipitously for the once firebrand leader … (polls) showed that the former prime minister’s popularity ratings had fallen by more than half – from 70% to 30% – following acceptance of the tax increases, spending cuts and sale of public assets he had formerly pledged to wipe out.

“Syriza’s ratings have also plummeted – from around 33% before Tsipras agreed in July to the tough terms of a third bailout from the EU and International Monetary Fund – to 23%”.

Another veteran Greece-based correspondent, FT’s Kerin Hope, writes that “Syriza is still expected to win the election by a narrow margin, according to six opinion polls published over the weekend.”

Nevertheless, she highlights the “sharp decline from its (SYRIZA) commanding 12- to 15-point lead in June — before Athens agreed to further tax increases and spending cuts in the latest rescue package.”

Hope adds:

“Mr Tsipras’s own popularity has also suffered following the adoption of the new three-year bailout programme. The deal followed five years of austerity under previous governments that saw pensions and public sector salaries fall by more than 40 per cent.”