Former Greek PM's party leads in opinion poll

The first authoritative opinion poll published since Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned last week showed his leftist Syriza party leading the opposition conservatives ahead of Sept. 20 elections, the Efimerida Ton Syntakton newspaper reported on Friday.

Alexis Tsipras waves to spectators. (AAP) Source: AAP

The Syriza party was supported by 23 percent of those polled, versus 19.5 percent backing the conservative New

Democracy party, according to the poll, which was carried out by ProRata based on a sample of 1000 interviewees.

Popular Unity, the party formed last week by disaffected Syriza members who oppose the country's latest 86 billion euro bailout, was backed by 3.5 percent of those polled.

Independent Greeks, the ally in Tsipras' former coalition government, scored 2 percent, below the 3 percent threshold needed to enter parliament.