ATHENS – It has slipped a bit as the government has been accused of bungling its second lockdown response to the COVID-19 pandemic but New Democracy still holds a resounding 17 percent lead over its major opposition SYRIZA Progressive Alliance.

That was the result of a survey by the firm Pulse for SKAI TV, in line with earlier polls that showed the Conservatives keeping double digit leads over the Leftists unseated easily in July 7, 2019 snap elections.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras blasted Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who admitted he was slow in bringing a second closing of non-essential businesses in a bid to slow the spread of the Coronavirus.

According to projections based on expected valid votes, New Democracy had a 40-23 percent lead, said Kathimerini, the only parties with relevance as Greece has become dominated by them.

Third and far back was the center-left Movement for Change (KINAL) with only 7 percent, made up mostly of veterans of the former once-ruling PASOK Socialists who faded into oblivion after backing austerity measures antithetical to its alleged principles to serve a former New Democracy government in a coalition.

Fourth in its usual position that hasn't changed for decades was the KKE Communists at 6 percent, followed by the ultra-nationalist Greek Solution at 5 percent and the MeRA25 at 3 percent, the benchmark needed to stay in Parliament.

Another finding that didn't fare well for the government, however, was that only 5 percent believed a December European Union showdown meeting will see sanctions imposed on Turkey for hunting for energy in Greek waters.

Mitsotakis withdrew his demand for penalties to give diplomacy a chance which immediately failed when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – who had pulled an energy research ship and warships away from the island of Kastellorizo – sending them back in again.