ATHENS – The election of Greek-American businessman Stefanos Kasselakis – trying to quell a mutiny among Leftists – has seen the major opposition SYRIZA fall in a poll and in danger of being overtaken.

The survey conducted by polling firm GPO for TV channel Star showed the ruling New Democracy with a runaway lead of 36.6-12.9 percent for SYRIZA but the center-left PASOK Socialists in a close third at 11.9 percent.

Fourth was the KKE Communists at 8.5 percent, followed by the far-right Hellenic Solution at 5.4 percent and the extreme-right Spartans at 3.5 percent as it’s being probed for ties to a jailed neo-Nazi firebrand.

The religious fundamentalist Niki party that has 10 seats in Parliament is falling, coming in  2.5 percent, followed by the left-wing Sailing for Freedom at 2.3 percent, both under the 3 percent needed to get into Parliament.

The survey further showed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ iron grip on power, withstanding a phone bugging scandal Greece having the European Union’s worst media freedom record and sliding in rule of law ratings.

His all-out push for a faster economic recovery after ending COVID-19 health restrictions to attract tourists and luring foreign investors has worked to accelerate a comeback, despite inflation and high food costs.
Respondents in the poll put him far at 48 percent as the best choice to be Premier, with PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis – who’s nipping at SYRIZA’s heels at 13.8 percent and political newcomer Kasselakis at 12.1 percent.

Mitsotakis is also the only political leader whose favorability rating is higher than unfavorability, at 50.4-49.1 percent – still showing half the respondents didn’t like him despite so many believing he’s best to lead the country.

He was followed in that category by Communist leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas, Androulakis, Sailing for Freedom leader Zoi Konstantopoulou and the other parties leaders.

Kasselakis’ surprise election saw veteran Leftists questioning his credentials and he responded by ejecting SYRIZA stalwarts, and the survey found that only 6.1 percent believed he’s aligned with the Left.

Some 17.4 percent put him at the center-left, 15.6 percent as a centrist, 17 percent at the center-right, 14.3 percent on the right and 20.2 percent as none of those, adding to the confusion over where voters believe he stands.

Still, 77.7 percent of SYRIZA voters think he’s right to move the party in a different direction after it was thumped twice by New Democracy under former leader and one-time premier Alexis Tsipras.

His removal of several SYRIZA veterans was also backed by those who are party supporters, some 76.2 percent saying no one should question his leadership and blaming his critics for the turmoil.

The tumult, however, has seen one of those ousted saying he will form his own party, adding to the further splintering of Greece’s left-wing parties as Mitsotakis further consolidates his hold over the political landscape.