Majority of Greeks Positive on Papademos Selection, Polls Show

A majority of Greeks say Lucas Papademos was the right choice to lead the nation’s interim government and that elections should be held later than currently envisioned in mid-February, according a poll to be published tomorrow in Athens-based Ethnos newspaper.

Of the 952 households polled by Marc SA from Nov. 10-11, 79 percent were positive about the selection of Papademos to lead the interim government. When asked if the government’s term should last longer than now planned, 54 percent said yes while 76 percent said it should make important decisions during its term. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percent.

Former Prime Minister George Papandreou announced agreement on a unity administration on Nov. 9 after his proposal for a referendum on a second Greek financing package roiled markets and angered Greeks and European Union partners.

A separate survey by Kapa Research of 1,033 people showed 73 percent were positive or somewhat positive about the choice to select Papademos. The poll, to be published in To Vima newspaper tomorrow, showed 57 percent of respondents thought elections should be held later than now planned. Almost eight in 10, or 79 percent of respondents said Greece’s place in the euro-region was more secure or probably more secure because of the establishment of the new government.

The poll was conducted on Nov. 11 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The new government must implement budget measures and decisions related to an Oct. 26 European bailout amounting to 130 billion euros ($180 billion) as well as manage a voluntary debt swap, before holding elections that have been tentatively set for Feb. 19.