Bakoyanni says Mitsotakis will take responsibility if New Democracy falls below 25%
Greek MP Dora Bakoyanni says Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will take responsibility if his New Democracy party falls below 25% in the next election, while arguing that a parliamentary majority remains within reach. She also defended the government’s handling of inflation, attributing rising prices to international conflicts.
Dora Bakoyanni, a New Democracy MP representing Chania, said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis would accept responsibility if the ruling party’s electoral support fell below 25% in the upcoming election.
In an interview reported by Greek newspaper Empros on October 20, Bakoyanni said Mitsotakis was not clinging to power and would take responsibility for the party’s performance.
Her remarks followed comments by Mitsotakis suggesting that an election result below 25% could prompt questions about his position as prime minister.
“Mitsotakis is not saying, ‘It has to be me and nobody else,’” Bakoyanni said, arguing that the prime minister had so far won elections and contrasting his record with that of political leaders who remained in office despite receiving significantly lower vote shares.
Bakoyanni also expressed confidence that New Democracy could still secure an outright parliamentary majority, saying voters were conscious of the scale of the international crisis and reluctant to put existing gains at risk.
BAKOYANNI DEFENDS GOVERNMENT OVER INFLATION
Addressing the cost-of-living crisis in an interview with Greek broadcaster Skai TV, Bakoyanni rejected the term “Mitsotakis inflation,” arguing that rising prices were driven by international conflicts rather than the government’s policies alone.
She pointed to the wars in Ukraine and Iran, saying their economic consequences were being felt across Europe, the United States and the wider world.
Her comments come amid continued political debate in Greece over household purchasing power, taxation and the government’s economic record.
Bakoyanni also criticised former prime minister Antonis Samaras over his statements on inflation and taxation, describing his arguments as lacking seriousness.
She said that addressing the international factors driving prices would require, among other things, resolving the conflict in Ukraine and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Until then, she argued, alternative promises to tackle inflation were unrealistic.
SAMARAS COULD COST NEW DEMOCRACY SOME SUPPORT
Asked whether a potential new political party led by Samaras could damage New Democracy, Bakoyanni acknowledged that it could take votes away from the ruling party, but dismissed the prospect of serious damage.
Her remarks highlight the political challenges facing New Democracy as it seeks to maintain its electoral strength amid concerns over the cost of living and speculation about possible changes in Greece’s political landscape.
