Greeks most pessimistic in EU, survey finds
Only 22 percent of Greek households are satisfied with their financial situation, when the European Union average is nearly three times that, according to a Eurobarometer survey published on Thursday.
Seventy-seven percent of Greeks described their household finances as “rather” or “very bad,” against the 27-member bloc’s average of 35 percent, according to the same survey. Only 6 percent said they expected things to improve in the next 12 months. The data, gathered from more than 32,000 people between November 3 and 18, rank Greeks as the most pessimistic people in the Union.
Only 32 percent of Greeks said they are satisfied with their life, which puts them well below the EU average and last in the Union with the Portuguese.
Asked about the most important issues facing Greece at the moment, more than half described unemployment as the biggest challenge, followed by the economy. Crime is the main concern for 10 percent of respondents.
Eighty-eight percent said that “things are going in the wrong direction” for the country at the moment, against 4 percent who were upbeat about Greece’s prospects.
Asked about their degree of satisfaction with the way democracy operates in the country, only 11 percent said they are satisfied against 89 percent who said the opposite. A mere 5 percent trust political parties and 7 percent Parliament.
