One of the first major opinion polls for the upcoming regional government election in the greater Athens area has the outgoing mayor of the municipality of Maroussi, Giorgos Patoulis, leading the incumbent, Rena Dourou, by a substantial margin.
In a poll published by the Sunday weekly Vima, Patoulis is preferred by 30 percent of respondents to 14 percent for Dourou. The latter ties with former regional governor Yannis Sgouros, who also polls 14 percent.
A candidate must reach 50% + one vote to be elected in the first round of local government elections in Greece, otherwise the two vote-getter will face-off in a second round.
Dourou, a high-profile member of the current ruling party, hard left SYRIZA, has faced scathing criticism for alleged inaction in relation to the deadly Mandra flash floods in November 2017 and the even deadlier Mati wildfire in July 2018.
Patoulis, backed by center-right New Democracy (ND) party, is also the president of the Athens Medical Association.
The opinion poll was conducted by the Metron Analysis firm.
