Bailout Fallout and sky rocketing unemployment - 20.7 percent in the 4th quarter ..... further austerity will be an even tough sell for the Greek pols moving forward...

http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/8/54057

Support for pro-bailout parties remains low

15 Mar 2012

(File photo) Support for the two parties backing  Prime Minister Lucas Papademos remains low as leftwing, antibailout parties gain ahead of elections expected in late April or early May, a poll showed on Thursday.   Including undecided voters and those who refused to say how they will vote, the poll puts New Democracy at 17 percent, Pasok at 10, Communist Party (KKE) and the Radical Left Coalition (Syriza) at 9.5 each, Democratic Left at 8, Independent Greeks at 5, Golden Dawn at 3.5, Popular Orthodox Rally 3, EcoGreens, Democratic Alliance and Panhelleic Citizens Chariot at 2 each.   With the threshold to enter parliament set at three percent, the next partliament would consist of eight parties.    Four percent of responds said they intended to vote for other parties.     A total of 15.5 percent said they would abstain or cast a blank ballot, while a further 9 percent said they were undecided.    Of those who intend to vote, 23 percent of respondents said they would vote for New Democracy, while 13.5 percent said they would back Pasok, according to a survey by pollster Pulse RC published in To Pontiki.   Backing for the smaller, antibailout parties remained high - with the Communist Party (KKE) and the Radical Left Coalition (Syriza) taking 12.5 percent each, followed by the Democratic Left with 10.5 percent.   Based on current poll numbers, New Democracy would fail to win an absolute majority and would have to depend on its current coalition partner - Pasok - to govern. The two parties have been suffering in polls because of their support for the second bailout package.   The next election is expected to be called once parliament passes a law on the new bailout this month, with officials predicting it will be held in late April or early May.   The survey was carried out on March 12-13, after the government   concluded a successful bond swap.   But 31 percent of Greeks said the swap was negative for Greece, while 36 percent said it did not change the current situation and only 26 percent said it was positive for the country. (Reuters, Athens News) and.... Radical Left Coalition wants proportional representation 15 Mar 2012 (File photo) The Radical Left Coalition (Syriza) has tabled draft legislation to parliament seeking a change in the election system to full proportional representation.   The proposal – backed by nine party MPs and two independents – was published on theSyriza website and calls for provisions setting a three percent vote threshold for parliament to be scrapped along with provisions to bolster the majority party.   The general election in late April or early May is expected to produce a hung parliament, even under the current system.   Under rules that take effect this year, parliament's 300 seats will assigned by a complex system of "reinforced proportionality" with 50 of those seats awarded automatically to the majority party as a bonus.   Changes in the election system can only take immediate effect when approved by a two-thirds majority. If approved by a simple majority, the changes take effect after two election cycles. (Athens News/gw)