Against the backdrop of signs that the New Democracy party’s poll numbers are improving in recent surveys and as the political landscape becomes increasingly clear in the run-up to the upcoming national elections, the government is moving on to the next phase of its planning.
The strategy being developed by the Maximos Mansion is based on two pillars.
The first involves stemming the flow of voters to the right, with a clear response to the criticism from Antonis Samaras and, more broadly, to all those who question the government’s choices, particularly on national issues. The former prime minister’s new party is on the verge of being founded, and the number of voters who will place their trust in him is a key factor in the final election result; the prime minister’s team is seeking ways to ensure that this intense political activity has the least possible impact on the New Democracy party’s vote share.
In recent days, the government camp has incorporated into this equation the battle of ideas against the left—in the wake of the murder of Vagia Nestora in Thessaloniki—combined with the principle of law and order. Hence the focus on apprehending the perpetrators.
The second pillar of the government’s strategy concerns the political center. At the Maximos Mansion, officials believe that Alexis Tsipras’s return and the findings of the latest polls are restoring a familiar political dichotomy, which limits PASOK’s ability to emerge as the primary alternative for power.
According to this line of reasoning, the emergence of the former prime minister as the main political rival is not aimed solely at the Left, but also to moderate and centrist voters who identify with PASOK but seek political stability in the face of the… danger of a return to the past—and to whom the ruling party is turning.
The common denominator between these two distinct audiences, each with different political leanings, is the undecided voters. At the Prime Minister’s Office, in line with poll findings, they are aware that the largest pool of potential voters consists of citizens who voted for New Democracy in 2023 but are now expressing reservations and keeping their distance without having switched to another political party. They are addressing these voters first and foremost, emphasizing the need for credibility and continuity in the country moving forward.
Major Challenges
This is the context for the strategy that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been highlighting in his most recent public statements—on the one hand, by taking stock of the government’s work to date, and on the other, by outlining the plan for “Greece in 2030”.
The goal is to shift the public debate toward the major challenges of the next five years: completing the constitutional revision, accelerating economic growth through new investments, leveraging artificial intelligence in the production process, addressing the demographic challenge, the energy transition, and geopolitical realignments.
According to this narrative, “New Democracy is the only political force presenting a comprehensive plan to address these challenges.”
The prime minister’s reference to the need for a new term in office follows the same line of reasoning. As he argues, many of the changes already set in motion must become irreversible, while he sets as priorities the constitutional enshrinement of fiscal responsibility, further boosting growth, and bringing citizens’ disposable income closer to the European average.
At the same time, it sends a message that there will be no letup in the government’s efforts until the elections. He identifies the completion of projects and reforms linked to the Recovery Fund, as well as the implementation of a dense legislative agenda, as key milestones, emphasizing that his priority is to maintain the pace of government action at full speed.
At the same time, the intense organizational activity within New Democracy—with continuous tours, meetings, and the mobilization of the party apparatus under the new secretary of the Political Committee, Konstantinos Kyranakis, serves as yet another tool for Piraeus to reconnect with the party base, as the goal is to ensure that not a single vote is lost from the center-right bloc. The degree to which blue voters rally behind the party on election night will largely determine the future of the country, as well as that of the party.