国际英语新闻：Polls: Majority Greeks reject government policy

ATHENS, April 16 (Xinhua) — A new poll says 67 percent of the people in Greece are dissatisfied with the government’s policies, mostly in the economy sector.

Still the socialist ruling PASOK party is considered the most capable of handling the problems by 46.5 percent of those surveyed to 30 percent for the main opposition New Democracy party. Prime Minister George Papandreou is the more popular political leader in the country by 68 percent, despite the harsh austerity measures his government has implemented.

Fifty percent of the people who took part in the poll believe that the economic situation in Greece will worsen in the following months, according to the survey published in the“Kathimerini”daily and broadcast by SKAI radio station.

At least 66 percent of Greeks expressed fear that due to the economic crisis there could be social unrest in the country in the near future.

That is especially since Athens is getting closer to the activation of the European Union-International Monetary Fund mechanism to support the Greek economy, which was expected to be followed by more austerity measures.

“The activation of the mechanism or not will be decided based on the national interest. We are making the preparatory moves necessary to request the aid," Papandreou said during an address at the Athens parliament on Friday.

Despite criticism regarding the involvement of the International Monetary Fund in the rescue plan, the Greek premier stressed that the existence of the newly created mechanism to support European economies in need is an important development for Europe.

"Let's not fool ourselves. The IMF has already entered the process and already supervises us. But that does not mean that the country has defaulted. We can still borrow, but the approval goes through IMF. The mechanism also means that we will not be left to sink, as many had predicted," Papandreou said.