国际英语新闻：Poll shows almost half of Greeks reject pension system reform

ATHENS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A wide majority of Greek citizens reaching up to 48.6 percent, reject the pension reform bill to be voted on July 8 by the Greek parliament, according to the latest opinion poll published on a Sunday newspaper.

The poll released on Sunday's "Vima" newspaper shows that 29.6 percent of Greeks requested the immediate withdrawal of the bill and a further 19 percent called it catastrophic.

Some 35.2 percent of the people participating in the poll deemed the reform necessary but unfair.

Furthermore, almost one in two Greeks (49 percent), voiced disillusionment with the ruling and opposition parties and believed that the current political system cannot give concrete solutions and lead the country out of the crisis.

If general elections were held now, PASOK would get a 23.4 percent of votes, center Right New Democracy party would receive a 15.6 percent and smaller parties such as the Communist Party of Greece would get their usual percentages lower than seven percent.

Four out of ten people asked replied "I do not know who I would vote for."

The large majority of Greeks with 60.8 percent were very clear on their stance towards hooded youths who cause havoc at the end of many protests against austerity measures. People who took part in the poll said they were angry at them and at the state that does not tackle troublemakers.

In order to gain the financial support from the European Union and International Monetary Fund, the Greek government has adopted very strict austerity measures since May which include cutting the salaries of public servants, raising taxes on gas, tobacco and alcohol, as well as reforming the pension system.