As we are getting closer to the next national elections – expected to take place sometime between the end of September and the spring of 2027 – we are witnessing a dangerous race of populism, both between the government and the opposition and within the latter.
While almost everyone agrees that what the Greek economy needs is discipline, reforms and transparency, what seems to be on the preelection agenda is how to offer more goodies to the voters.
Even more worrisome is the fact that this populism comes from the country’s main political forces – supposed to be the more realistic and serious ones – and not from the fringe of the political spectrum.
The ruling conservatives, which are polling around 26%, criticize both former prime minister Alexis Tsipras’ Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), second in the polls with around 16%, as well as the other major center left party, PASOK, which follows in third place with around 10%, for announcing measures that the economy cannot afford.
But at the same time, the government has made no secret that it is preparing to offer numerous subsidies and announce other targeted measures for specific segments of the population – and the electorate – in the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair in September.
