The confrontation between PASOK and the polling company RealPolls is developing at a particularly high level, following the strong reactions of Charilaou Trikoupis to the results of the latest opinion poll.
RealPolls responded publicly to the allegations of “manipulation”, defending its methodology and the reliability of its measurements, while hinting that it is even considering legal action for statements it considers slanderous or harmful to its image.
The reason for the new political clash was a recent poll by the company, in which New Democracy appears to garner 29.1 percent, followed by Alexis Tsipras and Maria Karystianou. At the same time, PASOK is recorded in single digits, while SYRIZA appears out of parliamentary representation.
From the side of Charilaou Trikoupis, there was talk of a “clear attempt at manipulation” by certain centres, with accusations against polling companies as a whole.
In its response, without directly naming PASOK, RealPolls argued that recently there has been an organised effort by a specific political sector to discredit the polling industry as a whole.
The company stressed that it applies internationally recognised research methods, similar to those used by major foreign organisations, and stressed that its predictions have been confirmed repeatedly in elections.
As stated in its statement, the company’s public stance is aimed at restoring the credibility of the institution of opinion polls in the face of attacks that, it claims, are damaging public opinion research as a whole.
RealPolls also recalled that in previous election processes its estimates were confirmed by the final results, insisting that criticism is only acceptable when it does not cross the boundaries of political debate.
In the most severe part of the statement, the company made it clear that it reserves all legal rights, both civil and criminal, against reports it considers false or defamatory.
This new development further intensifies the already charged political climate surrounding the polls, which have recently been the focus of intense political controversy and debate.
