PM under pressure over possible electoral law change

Discussions on revising Greece’s electoral law are continuing behind the scenes, despite repeated denials from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that such a move is being considered, according to government sources and lawmakers.

According to Dora Antoniou's article published in Kathimerini, a source familiar with deliberations within the prime minister’s inner circle said: “Eight out of ten of Mitsotakis’ interlocutors tell him that the electoral law should be changed.” Lawmakers and aides are reportedly advancing different proposals, with informal groups forming around various scenarios.

The debate is fueled by New Democracy’s stagnation below 30% in opinion polls and strained relations with other parties, which reduce prospects for coalition-building, officials note. Supporters of reform argue that the government’s earlier adoption of a more modest bonus system for the leading party—intended as a gesture toward a more cooperative political climate—was not acknowledged as such by the opposition. Meanwhile, New Democracy faces a lack of viable partners: PASOK has made clear it will not align with the government, often joining smaller parties in opposition stances.

“It may be difficult for the prime minister to back away from a position he has publicly defended many times,” said a close associate. “But the circumstances may ultimately leave him with little alternative.”

Proposals under discussion include:

A return to the “Pavlopoulos law”, granting a flat 50-seat bonus to the first party regardless of vote share.

Adjustments to the bonus-seat threshold, making it easier for the leading party to secure additional seats.

Raising the minimum entry threshold for smaller parties in Parliament from 3% to 5%.

Under the current law, the leading party receives 20 bonus seats at 25% of the vote, with one additional seat for every 0.5% above that, up to a maximum of 50 bonus seats.