Ruling New Democracy is intensifying its message that the upcoming election will be decisive on the first Sunday of voting, amid concerns that some dissatisfied supporters could stay home or back alternative political forces.
The phrase “there will be one ballot and everything will be decided on the first Sunday” has been repeated in recent days by government officials. According to the government’s assessment, the main risk is that voters could view the first election as merely a rehearsal for a subsequent contest that would produce the country’s “real government.”
Officials fear that if such a perception takes hold, a significant number of dissatisfied New Democracy voters could either abstain or support another party, including one associated with former prime minister Antonis Samaras. In that scenario, the election result could become, in the government’s view, “unmanageable.”
Government officials say the emphasis on a single decisive ballot is aimed at mobilizing the party’s electoral base. They note that New Democracy’s voter cohesion currently stands at about 65% compared with 2023 levels. One government source pointed to the possibility that voters registered outside their place of residence might choose not to travel to vote, describing that as a major disadvantage.
