Greek Communist Party

Two public opinion polls published on Friday, the last day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's elections for European Parliament, gave the conservative opposition a robust lead over the ruling leftists.

By George Gilson

The government handily won a confidence vote this evening (153-136) after a three-day debate which was characterised by ad hominem and vitriolic exchanges between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Just a few days before conservative New Democracy's planned submission in Parliament of a legislative amendment for the abolition of a planned reduction to the tax-free threshold, the Greek Communist Party (KKE) has tabled its own amendment.

Main opposition New Democracy leads SYRIZA by 6.5 percentage points, but the ruling party's polling numbers in the region of Macedonia have collapsed, largely due to the hugely unpopular Prespa Agreement with the state of North Macedonia.

Opposition New Democracy has a 9-point lead over ruling SYRIZA in the upcoming European Parliament elections, according to a new public opinion poll published on Thursday.

Athens-based journalist Vassilis Lyritzis, known for his lively and critical coverage of the news on television and radio, died in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 62.

Michalis Kostarakos, the former chairman of the Greek Joint Chiefs of Staff, has lambasted the SYRIZA government over its handling of foreign policy and national issues in a lengthy post on his Facebook account.

A survey ordered by the European Parliament on the strength of parties in all EU member-states in the run-up to May's European Parliament election shows that New Democracy maintains an 11.3 percentage point lead over ruling SYRIZA.

Opposition New Democracy enjoys a 14-point lead over incumbent SYRIZA in a poll of polls conducted by the European Parliament ahead of elections for representatives at the bloc's legislative body on May 23-26.

Members of the Greek Communist party (KKE) hold placards during a rally against the Prespes deal, near the United States embassy, background, in Athens, Thursday. Greek lawmakers are debating a historic agreement aimed at normalizing relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in a stormy parliamentary session scheduled to culminate in a Friday vote. [Michael Varaklas/AP]