By Antonis Anzoletou

Forty-four days until the elections. Unless something changes in the plans so far, which Maximou has allegedly made, the parties have 14 days ahead of them before the official pre-election period begins where the restrictions on the appearances of the candidates for parliament in the media will also apply. The dilemmas will intensify and the tones will rise. The skirmishes on the “border line” of center-left and center-right voters, who are looking for political shelter and are close to approaching the New Democracy, SYRIZA or PASOK they will cause additional “scorching”. In the center, once again, the “game” will be played, or in other words, in the middle area, which includes the largest part of the middle class. The movements of the specific audience tilt the “electoral sledgehammer” every time in contrast to the hard core of the Right and Left wing that remains unaffected by the developments in relation to their vote.

All the political forces have already put forward their leaders. The heads of the parties, in turn, have reached the “showcase”, that is, the partners with whom they will go to the polls. The “conundrum” of the ballots and the strategy is constant: the loudest announcements are left for the end, just like the State ballot.

The Parliament will very soon give the “baton” to the pre-election gatherings, to the tours of the executives, to the placements of the candidates in the press and possibly to the debate. Since September 2015, a telephone battle has been taking place when Alexis Tsipras “clashed” with the then president of New Democracy Vangelis Meimarakis. It is a fact that the rule wants the leading forces not to “burn” for the conduct of the debate. And usually the representatives of the parties at their meetings disagree on the details. The right thing to do in every pre-election period is to hold two teleconferences. One between the two main contenders for power and another dialogue that will include all parliamentary forces. If the recent elections in Cyprus are an example for the Greek ones, it is worth noting that on the island of Aphrodite the debate between the presidential candidates took place normally.

Polls will play a catalytic role in the days remaining until Greek voters go to the polls, if there are no surprises. As the polls draw nearer, party cohesion will increase, undecideds will leave the “gray zone” and research firms will more accurately capture the “pulse” of society. The economy more, transparency issues and Greek-Turkish issues less after the deadly earthquake in the neighboring country will be at the center of the political confrontation.