Poll shows slump for Greece's Socialists

A poll shows Greece’s socialists, who ruled alone for two calamitous years, have plummeted in popularity and are now trailing their new conservatives partners in a coalition government by nearly 9%.

A poll published in newspaper To Vima shows the conservatives leading the socialists by 8.8%, 21.6% to 12.4%. A poll from the same research firm in early September showed them at 21.8 to 21.2%.

The conservatives are far from assured a parliamentary majority. It was during their rule, from 2004 to 2009, that Greece’s economy began its free fall.

Almost 30% of respondents said they would either not vote or were note sure who they would vote for.

The December 28-29 poll December 28-29 has a sample of 1,004 and a 3.1% error margin.