Foreign and defense policy is emerging as a strong card for the government, according to a new nationwide survey by Opinion Poll for the Liberal.

At the same time, Greek public opinion appears deeply concerned about the international turmoil, the war in Iran and its potential impact on Greece. A significant percentage of respondents (46.5%) trust the ND on defense and foreign policy. At the same time, more than seven in ten people believe that Turkey is afraid of Israel.

Over all, the Opinion Poll survey highlights three main trends: first, the strong concern of citizens about international turbulence and its impact on Greece; second, the recognition of the importance of the country’s current alliances; and third, the positive assessment of the government’s foreign and defense policy,which seems to go beyond the narrow party boundaries of the New Democracy party and resonates with a part of the centrist audience.

Trust in the government’s foreign and defence policy

In addition, 46.5% very and quite positive about the government’s foreign and defence policy

After all, 46.5% very and quite positive, 20.8% somewhat, 29.7% not at all. This is a significant performance much higher than the New Democracy’s polling performance in the vote estimate and even its electoral performance in 2023. Clearly, foreign and defence policy is the government’s strongest card.

The highest positive ratings are among voters of ND with 76.8% and PASOK with 51.4%. In other audiences, the percentages are considerably lower: SYRIZA 17.5%, KKE 10.7%, ELLINIKI LYSI 27.5%, PLEUSI ELEFTHERIAS 21.1%.

The highest positive rating is also found among 65+ with 57.4% and the lowest among 30-45 with 36.1%.

Positive assessment of citizens on the alliances that Greece has made

The survey shows that the government’s initiatives and policies regarding alliances have had a significant impact, with citizens considering that they have shielded the country.

In particular, the Greece-France alliance is viewed positively and is seen as having shielded the country by 65.5%, with 30.8% of respondents viewing it negatively.

When it comes to the government’s armament programmes in particular, 56.5% of respondents view them positively, while 38% hold the opposite view.

As for Greece’s energy agreements with the US, 44.9% view them positively, answering “yes/probably yes”, while 46.4% have an opposing view.

Citizens have a positive view of the Greece-US strategic alliance at 53.5%, while 41% have an opposing view.

With regard to the Greece-France alliance, 65.5% of respondents have a positive view, while 30.8% disagree.

As for the Greece-Israel-Cyprus alliance, it is viewed positively by 55.7%, with 38.1 having an opposing view.

This is a significant positive account of these initiatives, policy choices and international alliances. Across all questions, the highest percentages appear to be for ND, with a performance of 68.8% to 82.7%, and PASOK with 69.9% to 82.5%.

On Greece’s relations with countries such as China and Russia

The Opinion Poll shows that 50% believe that Greece is safer with the current alliances it has formed (e.g.However, one in four, 27.8% to be precise, believe that Greece would be safer if it had privileged relations with Russia or China. 22.2% did not respond.

The largest percentages in favour of ensuring security with current alliances appear among voters of the New Democracy party (69.2%) and PASOK (68.3%). However, in both of these parties there is a 19.2% who think there would be more security if the country had privileged countries with Russia or China. This view is majority in SYRIZA (43.8% vs. 34.7%, KKE with 29.3% vs. 19.3%, ELLINIKI LYSI with 43.4% vs. 30.2%, PLEUSI ELEFTHERIAS 50% vs. 33.3%).

However, in all age categories the view in favour of the current alliances is majority.

Turkey fears Israel

Another interesting fact that emerges from the Opinion Poll is how citizens view Turkey’s attitude. Specifically, 38.8% believe that Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan’s continued statements that the Greece-Cyprus-Israel alliance is a danger to Turkey.

At the same time, it highlights the possibility that there could be an incident between Turkey and Turkey in the near future.

Equally interesting is the answer given by citizens to the question, “Do you think that Turkey is afraid of Israel’s military power?”, where 75.4 responded “Yes/Maybe yes”, while “No/Maybe no” was answered by 19.5%.

More than 8 in 10 citizens are worried about the war in the Middle East

The Opinion Poll survey captures the strong climate of concern in Greek society. 83.4% say they are “very” or “quite” worried about the war in Iran and international turmoil in general.

More specifically, 46.7% say they are very worried and 36.7% quite worried, while just 9.6% say they are a little worried and 6.7% not at all.

This strong concern is expressed horizontally regardless of party affiliation and age.

The dominant emotions triggered by international developments are uncertainty, with 36.9%, fear, with 30.3%, and anxiety, with 24.5%. This is followed by anger, at 14.4%, indifference, at 4.6%, and concern, at 3.2%, with respondents having up to two choices.

As for the main cause of these tensions, geopolitical interests stand out by far, at 38.6%, and energy resources, at 31.1%.This is followed by the interference of the great powers with 9.8%, Iran’s pursuit of an international arsenal with 3.3%, Russia’s revisionist policy (invasion of Ukraine) with 1.5%, the activities of terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah with 1.5% and religious differences with 2.8%.

68.4% believe that the conflict could directly affect Greece, while 27.4% do not believe so.

The highest percentages are found in SYRIZA with 81%, KKE with 78.6%, PLEUSI ELEFTHERIAS with 72.2%, and PASOK with 68.9%. Below average percentages in favour of the belief that the country will be directly affected are found in the New Democracy with 60.9%, perhaps because they feel more confident, and in ELLINIKI LYSI with 66%.

In terms of age categories, the greatest concern that Greece will be affected is found among 17-29 year olds at 75.7% and 56-64 year olds at 74.7%.

Based on the survey, it emerges that the economy at 80.4% and energy at 50.7% emerge as the critical sectors that are seen as most likely to have an impact on Greece. This is followed by migration flows with 22.6% and security with 15.6%. It should be noted that citizens were able to choose up to two answers to this question.

At the same time, 44.5% of citizens say they feel secure about Greece’s position in the international environment (13.9% very, 30.6% quite). 33.3% say a little and 21.2% not at all.

The highest rates of feeling secure are among voters of the New Democracy party (66.6%) and PASOK (49.5%). Much lower percentages are found among voters of SYRIZA, KKE, ELLINIKI LYUSIS and PLEUS ELEFTHERIAS with percentages of 23% – 25.8%.

Among age groups, the sense of security is strongest among 65+ voters with 54.7% and lowest among 30-45 voters with 35.2%.

On the role of countries against the background of international developments

For the EU, the highest percentages of positive views on its international role are found in the New Democracy Party (48.4%) and PASOK (41.7%).

For the USA, the Southwest with 37.1%, PASOK with 28.5% and ELLINIKI LYSI with 26.4%.

For Israel, the Southwest with 42%, PASOK with 20.6% and ELLINIKI LYSI with 24.4%.

For Russia to ELLINIKI LYSIH with 51%, SYRIZA with 43%, PLEUSI ELEFTHERIAS and KKE with 35.2% and 35.1% respectively.

For China to SYRIZA with 55.8%, PLUS ELEYTHERIAS with 53% and KKE with 52.6%.

For Iran to KKE with 30.4%, PLUS ELEYTHERIAS with 27.8% and SYRIZA with 23%.

Macron is by far the most popular foreign leader in Greece

Of the foreign leaders, Emmanuel Macron is the most popular with 54.3% (sum of positive and rather positive opinions). They are followed by Vladimir Putin with 34%, Donald Trump with 19.7% and Benjamin Netanyahu with 19.3%.

The strongest performances for Emmanuel Macron are seen in the New Democracy (76.5%) and PASOK (69%).

For Vladimir Putin, it’s ELLINIKI LYSI with 56.6% and SYRIZA with 42.1%.

For Donald Trump in the New Democracy with 29.3% and in the HELLENIC SOLUTION with 37.8%.

For Benjamin Detanyahu in the New Democracy with 34.7% and in the HELLENIC SOLUTION with 21.1%.

Identity of the survey

The survey was carried out by OPINION POLL for Liberal from May 6 to 8 in a nationwide sample of 1,000 households. The aim was to investigate the effects in Greece of international turmoil, its impact on citizens’ perceptions of political initiatives, international alliances and other government initiatives, as well as their assessment of the international role of countries and foreign leaders.

See HERE the survey