Opinion PolI on the iefimerida: At 35.5% the ND in Athens, ahead of Thessaloniki – The image Harry Doukas and Angeloudis

Conclusions from the Opinion Poll survey for iefimerida.gr on the evaluation of the first 100 days of the new Municipal Authorities in the Municipalities of Athens and Thessaloniki and the political correlations ahead of the European elections.

The objective of the double investigation carried out in the two largest municipalities of the country, the Municipality of Athens and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, was at this moment when the Municipal Authorities have closed more than three months of office to investigate the problems prioritized by the citizens, the evaluation of the work of the mayors and their results. At the same time, to record the opinions of the citizens on special issues of the municipalities, but also the political correlations that are formed in the run-up to the European elections.

Athens-Thessaloniki: The problems prioritized by citizens

In the Municipality of Athens, cleanliness with 50.6%, traffic/parking with 33.9%, crime/delinquency with 26.3%, the condition of the road network with 15.8%, the maintenance-development of greenery are ranked as the main problems with 12.5%, immigration with 10.3%, poverty with 10.1%, the state of squares/playgrounds with 7.9%, etc.

In the Municipality of Thessaloniki, cleanliness is prioritized with 60.6%, traffic/parking with 47.8%, transportation with 17.6%, the condition of the road network with 13.6%, the maintenance-development of greenery with 9.4 %, crime/delinquency at 8.4%, flyover construction at 7.4%, growth/unemployment at 4.8%, poverty at 4.2%, etc.

Evaluation of interventions of the two mayors in key areas – Overall project evaluation

In seven main areas of municipal policy, the degree of satisfaction of citizens is:

• In terms of cleanliness, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens is (very and quite) 29.6%. From the mayor of Thessaloniki, satisfaction (very and fairly) reaches 47.7%.
• In the squares and public spaces, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens reaches 26.1%, while with the mayor of Thessaloniki 40.7%.
• In sports/culture, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens reaches 27.5%, while with the mayor of Thessaloniki 36.2%.
• In matters of city security, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens reaches 17.4%, while with the mayor of Thessaloniki 30.1%.
• In social policy, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens reaches 25%, while with the mayor of Thessaloniki 28.8%.
• In schools/kindergartens, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens amounts to 23.3%, while with the mayor of Thessaloniki to 26%.
• In terms of traffic, satisfaction with the mayor of Athens reaches 16.8%, while with the mayor of Thessaloniki 19.3%.

From the results of the research it appears that in all the main areas the mayor of Thessaloniki shows more or less better comparative performance in the evaluation. This is also reflected in the overall evaluation of the work of the mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, in relation to the evaluation of the work of the mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis.

Citizens are more satisfied with the overall work of the mayor of Thessaloniki

35% of the citizens state that they are very and fairly satisfied with the overall work of the mayor of Athens, while the corresponding performance for the mayor of Thessaloniki reaches 52%.

In Athens, also, 50% believe that based on the writing samples of mayor Haris Doukas so far, he will do better than the previous mayor Kostas Bakoyannis, with 31% having the opposite opinion and 13% not answering. Accordingly, in Thessaloniki the citizens who consider that from the first samples of the mayor’s writing it seems that he will do better than the previous mayor Kostas Zervas reach 75%, with only 16% having the opposite opinion and 9% not answering.

The findings on some qualitative characteristics of the two mayors are also of interest. For Haris Doukas and Stelios Angeloudis, the performances are:

• Effective: 37.7% for Mr. Doukas and 55.1% for Mr. Angeloudis.
• With management experience and knowledge: 37.7% and 55.2%.
• Knowledgeable of the city’s problems: 57.7% and 72.4%.
• Accessible and friendly to citizens: 57.3% and 65.3%.
• With a consolidated view of the city’s needs: 56% and 65.2%.
• Proactive/decisive: 51.9% and 65.3%.
• Methodist: 47.4% and 58.2%.
• Assertive: 44.9% and 52.3%.

For some special problems and interventions in the two municipalities

In Athens:

• 49% believe that with the new mayor the Double Redevelopment in Botanikos will be accelerated, with 29% having the opposite opinion and 22% not answering.
• 57% believe that the mayor’s commitment to plant 5,000 new trees each year will be implemented, with 35% having the opposite view and 9% not answering.
• 33% believe that under the new mayor X. Doukas, the controls on illegal bank seats have been intensified and that public space is freed up to be given to citizens, with 44% having the opposite opinion and 23% not answering.
• 50% believe that under a new mayor the renovations of a number of places, such as Strefi hill, etc., will proceed, with 35% having the opposite opinion and 15% not answering.

In Thessaloniki

• In relation to the construction of the flyover, 47% believe that it is a useful project, but it should be started after the metro is operational and transport is strengthened. 19% consider it a useful project and well implemented despite the problems, because its construction will help the city, and 23% consider that it was not needed and that its construction should be stopped.
• 69% have a positive view of the mayor’s proposals to alleviate the problem while the project progresses (policing for better traffic flow, announcement of measures by a committee of transport experts, strengthening teleworking to reduce commuting), with 21% having a negative view of them.
• 30% believe that the government’s commitment to start operating the metro in the city from November will be kept, while 67% do not believe so.
• 47% believe that the redevelopment of the Exhibition should be done in the same place, with the conversion of its area into a metropolitan park, and 44% believe that the Exhibition should be relocated to another place and that the whole area should be converted current space in a metropolitan center.

For the political associations ahead of the European elections

The vote estimate for the European elections in the Municipality of Athens:

SW: 35.5%
SYRIZA: 15.3%
KKE: 9.5%
PASOK: 8.7%
GREEK SOLUTION: 6.8%
FREEDOM SAILING: 4.9%
WIN: 3.5%
NEW LEFT: 3.2%
DEMOCRATS: 2.9%
Day25: 2.7%
VOICE OF REASON: 1.6%
MUTINY: 1.3%
OTHER PARTY: 4%

The vote estimate for the European elections in the Municipality of Thessaloniki:

SW: 31.5%
GREEK SOLUTION: 13.9%
SYRIZA: 13.5%
KKE: 8.9%
PASOK: 7.4%
WIN: 6.1%
FREEDOM SAILING: 4.9%
DEMOCRATS: 3.1%
NEW LEFT: 2.8%
MeRA25: 2.1%
VOICE OF REASON: 1.8%
SPARTAN: 1.5%
OTHER PARTY: 2.5%

See the entire Opinion Poll survey HERE