A majority of Greeks believe that the harsh austerity measures announced by the government are imperative and a move in the right direction, according to the findings of an opinion poll carried out by Kapa Research and published in the newspaper "Vima" on Sunday.

   The poll was commissioned by the newspaper and conducted between February 3-4 using the method of phone interviews based on an electronic questionnaire, in a sample of 2,299 people throughout Greece with a distribution proportional to population in the 13 regions of the country.

   It found that 64.1 percent consider that the government's handling of economic issues is in the right direction and 64.3 percent that the harsh measures were imperative. Only 35 percent continue to believe that there are margins for policies that are less harsh.

   An overwhelming majority, 93.2 percent, agree that taxation with higher taxation of offshore companies, 85.5 percent agree with higher taxation of business profits, and 83.2 percent agree with an increase in taxes on dividends paid to major shareholders.

   There is more restrained support for a freeze on public-sector wages (63.6 percent), cutbacks in benefits to public-sector workers (64.6 percent) and further reductions in the number of people employed by public sector services (71.1 percent).

   By contrast, only 36.5 percent agreed with increasing the age of retirement and 60.5 percent opposed an increase in tax on fuel.

   In spite of their agreement with the government's measures, 61.5 percent believe that they will not succeed in stabilising the Greek economy and 57.5 percent believe that they are not sufficient to stop further cuts in the country's credit rating.

   Nor do the majority of Greeks believe that the country is on the verge of bankruptcy, however, with 66.3 percent considering this outcome improbable.

   Opinions are more dividing on an increase in public debt versus an increase in unemployment: 39.6 percent prefer an increase in public debt, 30.3 percent an increase in unemployment and 30.1 percent are unable to choose.

   The survey shows low support for mobilisations by trade unions and groups of employees to protect their privileges, with 55.6 percent opposed to a decision by the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) to call a general strike and 77.3 percent opposed to the reactions of certain sectors, such as tax and customs officials, against attempts to freeze or reduce their pay and benefits.

   The protest road blocks set up by farmers were supported by only 11.3 percent of those asked, though a further 45.7 percent said that they sympathised with their general demands but opposed the closure of highways as a means of protest.

   The polls also revealed a strong desire among Greeks for consensus in tackling the crisis, with 84.9 percent supporting a decision by main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras for conditional backing of the government's efforts on the economy, including 87.7 percent of ND voters. They seemed willing to give the Papandreou government additional time for its measures to bring results, with 32.6 percent prepared to wait for one year, 25.6 percent two years and 27.4 percent the whole four-year term.