If I had to make a bet, I’d say Greece will be heading into elections by October. The preelection period has already begun. Ministers are acting like candidates, chasing votes and “tidying up.” Only a few are still talking about reforms, and fewer still want to get things done before we go to the polls.
The way the political landscape is shaping up works to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ advantage, in the short-term at least. Alexis Tsipras’ rising popularity in public opinion polls may reflect reality or may be a flash in the pan. Either way, it suits Mitsotakis to have a main rival, especially when it’s his predecessor. He hopes this will help him muster support from former voters, both from the right and the center. From the right, because their anti-left reflexes will be activated and from the center because there are a lot of voters who hail from PASOK but despise the old SYRIZA and may be frightened into voting for incumbent New Democracy by the prospect of Tsipras’ return to power.
As for the other former prime minister rumored to be planning a comeback, the clock is ticking and he still hasn’t put together an electoral mechanism with any ambition. His loyal supporters certainly exist, as do disgruntled ND voters who will rush to his side. The question is whether there are enough of them to inflict any real damage on Mitsotakis and to rise above the minimum threshold expected of any former prime minister hoping to avoid going down the same path as George Papandreou in the PASOK internal party elections.
