Early election scenarios in Athens backstage

Kathimerini newspaper evaluated the early election scenarios. In the news-comment published on Tuesday, June 7, it was emphasized that Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis will clarify his final decision on the elections towards the end of the summer.

The newspaper stated that the current government will complete its three-year mandate in early July and enter its last year of office, and that as of July, the pre-election period will begin in concrete terms.

It was noted that Mitsotakis is expected to make his decision on the elections to be held as a double election after the evaluations he will make with his close circle and colleagues.

The article also included the answer given by Dora Bakoyanni, one of the important staff members of the ruling party NDP, to a question about possible early elections in a television program recently.
Reminding Bakoyannis' statement that "even Mitsotakis does not know when the elections will be held", it was stated that the current situation remains uncertain.

In the news – comment, two scenarios regarding the elections were expressed. According to the first possibility, the elections will be held next autumn. The second is that the elections will be held on time.

In the news-comment published with the signature of Stavros Papandoniu, it was emphasized that the prime minister's first choice is to hold the elections in 2023. The reasons for this were listed as follows:

- The war in Ukraine may end by 2023 and the energy crisis may recede and price increases may stop. Thus, the citizen can breathe a sigh of relief.

- The government foresees an increase in pensions and a reduction in some taxes from the beginning of 2023.

- Increasing assistance and support for low-income families.

- Prime Minister Mitsotakis' repeated statements that the elections will be held on time. Mitsotakis will strengthen his profile as a “leader who does what he says”.

According to the scenario, which argues that the elections will be held early and that early elections will be held in the autumn, the reasons for this are expressed as follows:

- The possibility of prolongation of the war in Ukraine.

- The continuation and deepening of the energy crisis.

- The continuation and deepening of the energy crisis. Therefore, the increase in the cost of living and the continuation of price hikes.

- According to international analysis, it is evaluated that the war and the energy crisis are still not at their peak, and accordingly, the government will experience a much more difficult period in the coming winter months, and in this case, the government may be seriously worn out.

- It is stated that if the opposition parties, especially SIRIZA and PASOK, increase the opposition dose, the prime minister may declare early elections in order to prevent a long and wearing election period that will last 8-9 months.

TWO OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

In addition to all these possibilities, there are two other important issues that will affect Mitsotakis' early elections or not.

One of them is the fire disasters that may occur in the summer, the other one is the relations between Turkey and Greece. Evaluating that possible fires could put the government in trouble, it was noted that as long as the tension with Turkey is at a controllable level, the government can benefit, and if the crisis gets out of control, an unpredictable process may be entered.

In the news-comment, it was claimed that the ruling party, New Democracy, kept its vote rate in the polls, even slightly increasing it, while it was emphasized that the upcoming elections would be double elections and this race would last for two months.