Greece: One-fifth of Greeks 'live in relative poverty'

Recent months have seen a political debate on income distribution and effective welfare policy as it becomes increasingly likely that general elections, due in spring 2008, may be brought forward and could take place any time after April 2007.

The debate opened with the conservative New Democracy government publicising the findings of a national statistics service (NSS) survey, based on 2004 data, examining unequal income distribution, poverty and the resulting social exclusion.