In a reshaped political landscape, marked by new political parties, intense polarization, and several open fronts, the government has begun to roll out its tailored strategy in the final stretch leading up to the elections.
The most likely scenario is that they will be held in the spring of 2027; however, regardless of the timing, what is certain is that the political landscape—beyond the New Democracy party’s expected lead—is completely fluid, and managing it will be extremely difficult and demanding for the ruling party.
Maria Karystianou, Alexis Tsipras, and in the background—as all signs indicate— Antonis Samaras are thoroughly shuffling the deck, the fragmentation of the political system seems deeper than ever before, and the prospect of a single-party government seems distant.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is trying by every means to resolve internal party issues—even though the two former prime ministers have differing views—and to forge ahead, with the “prize” being the many undecided voters who are still weighing the factors that will determine their final choice.
A major problem for the government remains inflation, and it is taken for granted that—as always—daily life and disposable income will be the decisive factors at the polls. In this context, this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair takes on particular significance, as the prime minister is expected to present the last major package of benefits and measures before the national elections, in an effort to mitigate the consequences of prolonged pressure on households.
Government officials note that the priority remains “the implementation of the program to improve citizens’ lives,” announcing that in the coming period the focus will be onthe “positive agenda”and accuse the opposition of being trapped “in a single-issue toxicity lacking a programmatic rationale and costed proposals.”
Citizens, officials at the Maximos Mansion say, are primarily interested in tangible solutions to everyday issues, from infrastructure and hospitals to the overall improvement of living standards, and that is where Mr. Mitsotakis intends to invest his efforts, with ongoing tours across the country and direct contact with the public.
Electoral Dilemmas
At the same time, the prime minister, as well as all top ministers, will insist on highlighting the electoral dilemmas, with the primary one being the need for political stability in the country and the comparative advantage of the prime minister himself as the most reliable choice for the nation. This is something Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to reiterate at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, while also setting out guidelines for his ministers on the way forward.
As for the new parties, the ruling coalition estimates that it will not lose any support from Maria Karystianou and Alexis Tsipras, but the situation with Antonis Samaras is much more complex, given that he aims to draw voters from the pool of former New Democracy supporters who are currently keeping their distance and fall into the so-called “gray vote” category.
The former prime minister’s interventions—most recently this past Friday in Parliament—continue to spark debate within New Democracy, whose officials, however, are avoiding a head-on confrontation, acknowledging—as they claim—his contribution during critical periods for the country and seeking to respond politically.
Specifically, they point out that, during Mitsotakis’s premiership, “Greece grew and became stronger diplomatically and defensively,” with defense procurement programs that “had not existed for decades.” At the same time, they stress that New Democracy “cannot be transformed into a party that echoes the rhetoric of far-right parties simply to pander to certain audiences,” with clear jabs aimed at Antonis Samaras.
The government, following two difficult days in Parliament over OPEKEPE and the wiretapping scandal, declares itself ready for a new head-on clash should PASOK table a motion of no confidence. They describe such a development as “welcome,” as—they say—it will provide an opportunity for a comprehensive political debate on the government’s work, as well as on the opposition’s alternative proposals.
“Society wants a programmatic debate on achievements and costed counterproposals,” emphasized government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, noting that the opposition is calling for elections without having a clear plan for governing.
At the same time, he assessed that such a parliamentary battle would reaffirm the cohesion of the New Democracy parliamentary group, despite the occasional differences of opinion and public objections that have been noted from time to time.