People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 2/10-9/10

Events of the week 2/10-9/10:

This week, Greeks watched:

  • the visit of the European Prosecutor to Greece and her statements on corruption and the functioning of justice,
  • the start of the implementation of the law on the automatic expulsion of students who have completed six years of study
  • the start of operation of private universities for the first time in the country.

On the sidelines of the above news, the People of Greece platform recorded the Subjective Well-Being Index of Greeks, the institutional trust indices, and the trust indices in business sectors.

What do we learn about Greece and the Greeks from this week’s findings?

  • Greeks feel less happy, with the subjective well-being index having fallen dramatically (-20%) over the last two years. Women and young people, the groups that historically support social reproduction, feel worse than men and older people.
  • Greeks do not feel that institutions function fairly or effectively. Institutional trust indices have fallen significantly over the past year, with the police and the justice system showing the sharpest decline (>30%). The only institutions with relatively higher trust indicators are the Armed Forces and Universities.
  • Greeks are also losing confidence in business sectors, with the relevant indices showing a general decline, with the exception of energy and pharmaceuticals, for which the confidence balance remains negative. There has also been a significant decline in confidence in the technology sector, which nevertheless remains the sector with the most positive balance. However, this finding probably indicates a fatigue with the narrative of progress.
  • Greek society is no longer surprised by revelations of corruption; it simply records them as a pathology. Nine out of ten Greeks agree with the view expressed by the European Prosecutor during her recent visit to Greece that there is well-organized corruption involving high-ranking officials. In general, the European Prosecutor’s statements received widespread publicity and had a negative impact on citizens’ perception of the government.
  • The law on the automatic expulsion of students who have completed six years of study divides Greeks on ideological grounds. Disability and work are accepted as exceptions, but financial difficulties are not.
  • The policies promoted by the government in the field of higher education are not considered important, with the marginal exception of the establishment of a university police force, which is accepted by right-wing voters but has been effectively withdrawn by the government.
  • Public universities are considered more reliable than private higher education institutions, but many Greeks (40%) believe that private universities will offer better services. The appeal of private universities is linked to more practical issues, such as easier admission to high-demand schools and better infrastructure.

What did the research reveal?


 

People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 25/9-2/10

News of the week 25/9-2/10:

This week, the People of Greece platform recorded the opinion of Greeks:

  • on Maria Karistianou and the influence of her positions on the evaluation of political parties,
  • on the requests by relatives for the exhumation of the victims of the Tembi accident,
  • on how to control the use of social media by minors,

What do we learn about Greece and the Greeks from this week’s findings?

  • Maria Karistianou’s approval rating in public opinion is close to 60%, with greater acceptance among women, middle-aged people, and the left.
  • Her positions have a negative impact on attitudes toward the party system, especially among young people and those on the left. The effect is most negative for New Democracy, without, however, favoring any of the opposition parties.
  • The almost universal support for the demands of the relatives of the Tembi victims shows that the issue has become a collective trauma.
    Opposition to the removal of the hunger strikers from Syntagma Square shows that Greeks prioritize social protest over “proper decorum.” Even if the issue touches on symbols, the public supports the right to protest.
  • Greeks continue to see the family as the main regulatory pillar: parents should determine their children’s exposure to social media, not the state or the platforms.
  • However, those with older children or no children at all trust institutional solutions more, a finding that shows that everyday experiences influence perceptions of responsibility. In any case, the question remains whether parents have sufficient knowledge and tools to fulfill this role, as well as whether the lack of support turns their responsibility into guilt.

People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 17-24/9

Week 17-24/9:

This week, Greeks watched:

  • the temperature rise within New Democracy and PASOK due to statements hinting at disagreement with the choices made by each party’s leadership,
  • former PASOK minister and former candidate for the party leadership Andreas Loverdos joining New Democracy,
    the national basketball team returning from this year’s Eurobasket with a bronze medal in its luggage,
  • Anna Vissi performing two sold-out concerts at the Panathinaiko Stadium.

What do we learn about Greece and the Greeks from this week’s findings?

  • The presence of the PASOK leader at the Thessaloniki International Fair does not seem to have made a significant impression on public opinion, even though his view that New Democracy should be excluded from government coalitions is shared by the majority of the public and is even endorsed by three-quarters of PASOK voters.
  • Citizens are skeptical of political moves such as those made by Andreas Loverdos, which they perceive as opportunistic rather than strategic.
  • Political leaders tend to be evaluated in the same way as the parties they represent. However, compared to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Nikos Androulakis and Socrates Famellos fall short of their party’s ratings, according to their voters.
  • The search for alternative leaders (Nikos Dendias in New Democracy, Pavlos Geroulanos in PASOK) reveals a society seeking renewal in terms of personalities and style.
  • Very few political figures, and those mainly from the past, are considered unifying for Greeks – such as Andreas Papandreou and, marginally, Konstantinos Karamanlis.
  • Greeks do not expect unity from politics, but from other spheres of public life. In the field of music, Haris Alexiou stands out as the most unifying figure, with newer faces such as Anna Vissi and LEX particularly appealing to younger generations. On television, “beloved” figures who exude simplicity and familiarity (Grigoris Arnaoutoglou, Akis Petritzikis, Angeliki Nikolouli) are considered unifying. In sports, Giannis Antetokounmpo almost perfectly embodies the concept of a “unifying” symbol, with Milto Tentoglou and Nikos Galis completing the picture.
    The attitude towards the national team’s performance at Eurobasket reflects a dual national mentality: on the one hand, realism and self-criticism (“we got what we deserved”), and on the other, a timeless sense of victimization (“we were wronged”).
  • The long-standing and intergenerational acceptance of Anna Vissi, which starts with Gen Z and extends almost to the Boomers, is due not only to her voice but also to the authenticity of her character.

What did the research showed?


People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 11-17/9

Week 11-17/9:

This week, Greeks:

  • discussed the new tax measures announced by the Prime Minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair, as well as Alexis Tsipras’ speech on the sidelines of the fair
  • followed developments in the murder case of far-right activist Charlie Kirk in the US
  • went shopping for school supplies and considered the options and possibilities for extracurricular activities they could offer their children
  • reflected, at the beginning of a new period, on their level of satisfaction with life in a big city and a provincial town.

What do we learn about Greece and the Greeks from this week’s findings?

  • Greeks appear cautious and skeptical about the Prime Minister’s policy announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair. With the exception of the measure to reduce tax rates for families with children, which is considered essential by the vast majority of citizens, the Prime Minister’s other announcements divide Greeks whether or not they are substantial. The measures presented by the Prime Minister at the TIF are considered to fall short of their expectations, while measures considered to be “communicative,” such as tax relief for young people, are considered ineffective.
  • Alexis Tsipras’ speech in Thessaloniki did not convince most people that it brought anything new. In general, there is fatigue from the political rhetoric that is recycled every year at the TIF.
  • There is little but real acceptance of gun ownership, especially among young people.
  • A significant portion of the population follows and comments on international developments, such as the Kirk murder, showing a connection to global discussions, but with a strong ideological filter.
  • Private education is considered attractive if financial means are available, with selection criteria differing for right-wingers (quality of teachers) and left-wingers (infrastructure).
  • Those who reject private schools do so for ideological/value-based reasons, stating that they fear the formation of an “elite mentality.”
  • The high cost of extracurricular activities reflects the fact that education is a significant financial burden for families. With the cost of extracurricular activities for a high school student exceeding €300 per month for more than half of Greeks, the cost of supplementary education leading to public university exceeds €9,000, which explains the preference of lower economic strata for private universities, as recorded by People of Greece last week, as the cost of extracurricular activities for a high school student preparing for admission to a public university becomes comparable to that of studying at a private university.
  • One in two Greeks want school textbooks to be updated frequently, a finding that reflects an interest in a more modern education.
  • Although those who would like to leave Athens or Thessaloniki for a city in the provinces outnumber those who would like to do the opposite, a significant percentage of young people under the age of 34 continue to seek opportunities in large cities. Those over 55 who wish to seek opportunities in large cities cite their need for more freedom and anonymity as their motivation.

    What did the survey reveal?


 

People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 3-10/9

Week 3-10/9:

This week, Greeks:

  • watched the speeches of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Alexis Tsipras on the sidelines of the Thessaloniki International Fair,
  • explored higher education options at newly established private universities, and
  • many of them weighed up the importance of job selection criteria,
  • and assessed the past summer in terms of opportunities for holidays and relaxation.

What do we learn about Greece and the Greeks from this week’s findings?

  • The issue of private universities is divisive and strongly linked to age, social class, and educational level. Younger and less privileged people view them positively, probably because they perceive public education as a mechanism that effectively excludes them, due to the high cost of prerequisites such as high school tutoring and accommodation in a city far from their families. Older and more educated people are more skeptical, showing confidence in the public system or reservations about privatization.

  • There is a crisis of representation and fatigue with regard to “established” politicians. Greeks appear very distrustful of political leaders: none of them exceeds 20% in terms of “usefulness,” while appearances at major events (TIF, Economist) do not substantially change the image of the leaders. Evidence of the need for new voices outside the traditional political scene is the high degree of usefulness recorded for Maria Karistianou.
  • Younger generations in Greece appear to be more demanding and more conscious of the quality of work, and less willing to compromise their personal values. Older generations remain more focused on compatibility with their studies and professional careers.
  • Economic inequalities are strongly reflected in leisure activities, as more than half of lower-income Greeks did not go on vacation. Island Greece is becoming increasingly inaccessible for many households due to cost, with mainland Greece being preferred for travel by car. Even when Greeks do travel, they see overtourism as a problem that detracts from the experience.

What did the survey reveal?


People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 27/8-3/9

Week 27/8-3/9:

After the end of summer, Greeks:

  • report their impressions of the scourge of the Greek summer, the fires, and how they were handled by the state authorities;
  • await the government’s announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair and seek the thematic priorities for the country’s governance; question the usefulness of policies that have been implemented for years without any tangible results; and are concerned about the future of the country
  • question the usefulness of political leadership,
  • set their personal goals for the start of the post-summer period.

What do we learn about Greece and the Greeks from this week’s findings?

  • Citizens appear disappointed with the government’s handling of critical issues, such as the summer fires, while low approval ratings for political leaders and former prime ministers indicate a deeper crisis of confidence in the political system as a whole.
  • Even the government’s announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair, although they are generating interest, are perceived more as words than as actions that will have an immediate positive impact on everyday life.
  • In terms of priorities, society appears to have consistent concerns, with one significant new addition: the fight against corruption, which now ranks at the top of the agenda, behind accuracy and health. At the same time, different social groups highlight different needs: young people are mainly concerned with issues related to their future and prospects, such as housing and immigration, while older people focus more on taxation and corruption.
  • A clear differentiation can also be seen at the political level, with the right-wing audience placing emphasis on immigration, demographic and tax issues, while centrists and leftists prioritize, in addition to accuracy, the fight against corruption, as well as issues such as housing for the former, and labor and education for the latter. This reflects a society that may agree on a general sense of dissatisfaction, but differs sharply on the solutions it seeks.
  • In the economic sphere, inflation remains the biggest headache, with citizens expressing support for proposals such as reducing VAT on food and fairer taxation of middle incomes. However, there is no consensus on the housing landscape; public opinion appears divided, with social housing and tax incentives standing out as relatively more popular policies.
  • The usefulness ratings for all political leaders and the two former prime ministers are extremely low, with Kyriakos Mitsotakis leading despite a drop in his rating compared to July’s measurement. There has also been a slight increase in the usefulness of left-wing leaders, mainly Alexis Tsipras and Socrates Famellos, at the expense of the usefulness of Zoi Konstantopoulou.
  • The mood among citizens at the start of autumn is rather cautiously negative. Less than half say they are optimistic, while their personal priorities focus not so much on grand ambitions as on basic needs: healthcare and financial stability. This reveals a weary society seeking security, reliability, and tangible results in everyday life.

What did the survey reveal?


People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 20-23/06/2025

This week, the People of Greece research platform recorded the views of Greeks on the establishment of a pre-trial committee to investigate the responsibilities of former Transport Minister K. Karamanlis and the general political effects of the Tempi accident, the opinion of Greeks on the recent SYRIZA congress, the possibility and necessity of calling early elections, estimates on the percentage of minors living below the poverty line in Greece, estimates on the duration of the war between Israel and Iran and on the role of the European Union in resolving the crisis.

The findings showed that:

  • Society insists on demanding accountability for the Tempi accident, even if it does not believe that the preliminary investigation will get to the truth. It does not trust – but it does not give up.
  • At the same time, the SYRIZA congress passes almost indifferently, underlining the lack of alternative political representation. The idea of early elections is treated more as a scenario than a solution.
  • An interesting finding comes from the assessment of child poverty: citizens underestimate the actual figure. This is not only indicative of a lack of information, but also of how the social normality has shifted – poverty, even when present, has become invisible.
  • At the international level, the Iran-Israel engagement reinforces the sense of instability and skepticism about Europe’s influence.
  • A society not easily moved, not easily trusted, but still watching and judging.

See in detail the opinion of Greeks in the infographics below.


Vote for the Pre-Inquiry Committee

  • Almost three out of five Greeks, and two out of five voters of the ND party, believe that the work of the pre-investigation committee that will examine the possible responsibility of former Infrastructure Minister Karamanlis in the Tempi accident will not contribute to the investigation of the truth.
  • Two out of five Greeks say that voting for Maria Karystianou’s proposal to refer her to the pre-trial committee was rational because it expanded the number of potential participants in the indictment. However, almost half of the voters of the ND party state that the voting of this proposal was politically motivated in order to create political tension.
    The impact of the developments surrounding the Tempi accident remains strongly negative for the government, but there is a tendency for the negative impact on PASOK and SYRIZA to diminish and a clear diminishing of the negative impact on Justice.


Developments in SYRIZA

  • Only four out of ten Greeks, and only a little more than half of SYRIZA voters, say they are sufficiently informed about what happened at the SYRIZA congress.
  • Three out of four Greeks say that the SYRIZA congress was evidence of the crisis in which the party finds itself from 2023 onwards and not an opportunity to regroup its forces, as the current party leadership tried to present it. The opinion of SYRIZA voters does not differ from that of the overall sample.


Possibility of early elections

  • One in three Greeks consider it fairly likely to certain that early elections will be called within the next 12 months. Although the percentage appears stable compared to the survey three months ago, the percentage of those who rule out such a possibility has decreased significantly compared to the March 2025 survey.
  • Greeks are divided on the necessity of calling early elections, with voters of opposition parties overwhelmingly stating that early elections are necessary.


Poverty, social exclusion and youth

  • Most Greeks underestimate the proportion of minors living below the poverty and social exclusion line, even though they correctly estimate that the rate is among the five highest in the European Union.
  • A significant proportion of ND voters (29%) claim that the rate for Greece is close to the average in European countries, not higher.


Developments in the Middle East

  • One in two Greeks believe that the military attacks between Israel and Iran will last for several months and will not end sooner.
  • Almost two out of three Greeks believe that the European Union cannot take on the role of mediator to end the war in the Middle East.

People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 13-16/06/2025

This week the People of Greece research platform recorded the chances of Greeks supporting parties that could be founded by former prime ministers Mr. Tsipras and Samaras, their opinion on the strength and clarity of PASOK’s positions, but also on developments that could favor the party’s electoral performance, their opinion on the possibility of participation in elections of parties that do not accept democratic principles, their opinion on changes to the Highway Code, their opinion on the attitude of US President Trump on the issue of the generalization of war in the Middle East and the issue of the protests in California and, finally, their attitudes towards products with a Greek label.

The findings show that:

  • The “Tsipras party” gains the interest of a notable, but not impressive, part of the audience, in contrast to the case of the “Samaras party”, which seems to have very limited potential.
  • PASOK is unable to achieve a link with specific policies that would provide it with a distinct programmatic identity, while the party’s leadership is seen as a handicap.
  • The dissolution of the Spartans is perceived as a blow to the space that belonged to Golden Dawn until 2019.
  • The implementation of the new Road Traffic Code, i.e. another law that has just been passed, is not seen as a certainty by almost half of Greeks.
  • A quarter of Greeks continue to show their support for US President Trump, stating that they would not participate in the protests against the harsh immigration policy in California.
  • The demand for buying products with a Greek label is high, with the vast majority of Greeks saying they are even willing to buy products with a slightly higher price tag in case they are Greek.

See in detail the opinion of Greeks in the infographics below.


Formation of a party by Alexis Tsipras & Antonis Samaras

  • Two out of three Greeks predict that Alexis Tsipras will found a party before the next elections, while the prediction of Greeks is not as clear in the case of Antonis Samaras founding a party.
  • The “Tsipras party” gathers 6% of certain voters with a potential audience ceiling of 20%, while the “Samaras party” gathers only 1% of certain voters with a potential audience ceiling of 7%.


PASOK

  • 42% of Greeks believe that there is no issue on which PASOK has the strongest and clearest positions, while the choices of the others are spread across many different issues, which shows the party’s inability to connect with specific issues.
  • There is a strong assessment that a change in PASOK’s leadership would favor the party (42%), while the assessment that the party should rule out any possibility of cooperation with ND is expressed more often (26%) than the assessment that the party should rule out such a possibility with the parties to its left (13%).


Dissolution of the Spartan Party

  • More than half of Greeks believe that the court decision to disqualify the three Spartan MPs from office has weakened the party, which until 2019 was represented by Golden Dawn.
  • On whether parties that do not accept democratic principles should participate in the elections, there is no clear answer from Greeks, with about two out of three responding that they should be excluded, but one out of three responding that they should participate.


New Road Traffic Code

  • Greeks are uncertain about the implementation of the new Road Traffic Code and the changes that have been passed.
  • The imposition of a fine of €350 for those using a mobile phone while driving, in addition to the hitherto foreseen penalty of removal of license plates and licenses, is seen as a measure likely to help reduce offenses, according to seven out of ten Greeks.


Developments in the Middle East

  • More than four out of five Greeks believe that US President Trump is in direct communication with Israel on the issue of the current military operations in the Middle East.


Violent protests in the state of California

  • One in five Greeks would join the protests taking place in California against President Trump’s harsh immigration policies. The percentage of left-wing voters who say they have such an intention is double that, approaching 40%.


Importance of country of origin of products

  • More than half of Greeks look for the country of origin of a product on its label.
  • Three out of four Greeks say they would buy a Greek product instead of a foreign one in order to support the national economy, and the same number would pay more to buy a Greek product if the price difference was small.

 

People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 6-9/6/2025

This week, the People of Greece research platform recorded the habits of Greeks around electoral choice and political debates, asked their opinion on the fairness of court decisions, traced the role of consumption in Greeks’ everyday life and the meaning of satisfaction from buying a product, and recorded the degree of use of online shops for supermarket purchases.

The findings show that:

  • Rationality, habit and momentary emotionalism equivalently describe the way Greeks decide their electoral choice. Family and place tradition is recorded as having a limited influence on shaping the voting choices of only 1/3 of the population.
  • Left, and right Greeks discuss politics, the former with those who disagree and the latter with those who agree. Centrists, on the other hand, more often avoid political discussions.
  • The vast majority of Greeks believe that court decisions in the country are not fair, with no dominant interpretation of this between the view that the law is not right and the view that the law is not properly applied by judges.
  • Consumption shows significant correlations with the emotional state of Greeks. Firstly, consumption is perceived as the optimal method of decompression from the tension of everyday life by more than 20% of Greeks and, above all, Greek women. Secondly, satisfaction with a purchased product is identified with the product’s ability to improve individual mood by ¼ of Greeks, and especially Greek women.
  • The pre-election and consumption habits of Greeks show a correlation, as those who show tendencies towards rationality in their electoral behavior are distinguished by corresponding tendencies in their consumption behavior (e.g. use of a shopping plan, satisfaction with the quality or usability of products purchased), while those who appear more momentary and emotional when making electoral choices do the same as consumers (e.g. propensity to consume as a way out of the tension of everyday life).
  • Online supermarkets are gaining a growing audience, especially among younger customers, although physical stores continue to be the main point of shopping.

    See in detail the opinion of Greeks in the infographics below.


Habits of electoral behavior

  • One in three Greeks, mostly men and self-identified left-wingers, say that what they do most often before elections is to read and compare positions. One in four Greeks, mostly over 55, say that they simply replicate their previous vote without doing anything special. Finally, one in five Greeks, mostly women and self-identified right-wingers, say that what they do most often before elections is to scan the “mood of the moment” and decide “with a sense of the moment”.
  • One in three Greeks, mainly younger and right-wing self-identified Greeks, say that they take into account the tradition of their family or place when deciding how to vote.
    More than half of Greeks say they often discuss politics, while just one in three say they avoid such discussions. Women and self-identified people in the center are the groups that most often avoid discussions.
  • Older voters and right-leaning voters tend to choose to discuss politics with people with whom they have common positions.


Judicial decision on the deadly fire at Mati

  • The awareness of the Court of Appeal’s decision on the defendants of the deadly fire in Mati is high, especially among the older age groups.
  • Four out of five Greeks agree with the view that judicial decisions in Greece are often not fair. As to the reason they attribute to the issuing of unfair judgments, Greeks are divided between those who think that the law is not right and those who think that judges do not apply the law correctly. Blaming judges is much stronger among left-wing voters.


Consumption habits

  • Greeks are divided in two in terms of the degree of planning their purchases, with half of them, mainly middle-aged and older, using a mental plan or list for their purchases, while the other half, mainly younger, are more often spontaneous in their purchases.
  • Greeks who choose their vote having studied positions and political programs during the election period are more likely to use a purchase plan, while those who choose based on a “sense of the moment” are more likely not to use one.
  • More than one in five Greeks choose consumption as a method of decompressing from the stress of their daily lives. The proportion is comparatively higher among young people and women.
    Greeks who choose to vote based on a “sense of the moment” are more likely to turn to consumption as a method of decompression from the stress of their daily lives.
  • One in three young people under 35 identify the satisfaction of buying a product with the negotiation (‘bargaining’) to obtain it, rather than with the quality or usability of the purchased item.


Supermarket

  • Visiting a physical store to buy everyday consumer goods remains the main way Greeks shop, even though one in ten Greeks, and one in five Gen Z Greeks, use online stores either exclusively or as an equivalent to physical stores.

People of Greece – Weekly snapshot 30/5-2/6/2025

The People of Greece research platform asked Greeks for their opinion on their body image, revealing significant trends in body confidence in Greece. The findings shed light on the social pressures and perceptions that shape how we see ourselves, with women and young people facing particular challenges.

The findings showed that:

  • Women show lower physical confidence compared to men, indicating a significant gender difference.
  • Young people (17-34 years old) experience the lowest physical confidence compared to older people, reflecting the strong impact of social norms on younger people.
  • Weight is the main source of insecurity for women, while men tend to feel less pressured by it.
  • Women and young people are more likely to report feeling pressure to change their appearance because of social norms, with weight remaining a central issue.
  • Women and young people are more likely to want changes to their appearance if there were no barriers, unlike men and older people.

See the detailed opinion of Greeks in the infographics below.


Body and confidence

  • Using 10 questions related to the issue of body confidence of Greeks (the findings of which you can see below) we divided the population into 3 groups, high, medium and low body confidence, in order to record the demographic profile of these groups.


Body and confidence

  • Almost three out of four Greeks do some form of exercise or physical activity at least once a week, with gym or weights being the most popular activity for those aged 35 and under and daily walking the most popular for everyone else.
  • Over 40% of Greeks, and 60% of young people up to 35 years old, have occasionally or regularly used dietary supplements.
    Social appearance patterns often put pressure on three out of ten Greeks and four out of ten Greek women, especially those in the younger age group.
  • Around six out of ten Greeks and seven out of ten Greek women, and even more and more in the younger age group, would change something about their appearance if it could be done risk-free and without cost.