By Antonis Anzoletou

Different readings are made by the government and the opposition on the opinion polls that have seen the light of day. Executives from the government staff emphasize that it is still too early to be able to draw safe conclusions. The country is experiencing a tragedy after the death of 57 people, the vast majority of them young.

This is not a natural phenomenon, but the railway which was considered one of the safest means. In this environment, they consider the wear and tear shown by the New Democracy in the first investigations after the Tempe accident. “There is no condition to overturn the scene”, they argue characteristically and estimate that the reunification will be achieved on the way to the polls. They note that the losses of approximately 3-4 points are not accompanied by a corresponding reinforcement of SYRIZA or PASOK. In Herodos Attikou they believe that there is enough time until May 21, when the polls will allegedly be set up. There are 68 days left where clearly the pre-election agenda will open and at the same time the government will advance the necessary initiatives for the consolidation of the OSE and the safe re-operation of the trains.

In SYRIZA there is optimism and they talk about a clear change in the climate in society. The extension of time and life that the prime minister gives to his government is a result, according to Koumundourou officials, of the fear and anxiety that exists in the government camp. The tragedy in Tempi highlighted the “nakedness” of the staff state and now the only defense is to gain at least an extra month and a half in order to rebuild a new narrative. The president’s staff are talking about “public panic”. SYRIZA that the prime minister suddenly fell ill.

New Democracy and SYRIZA have always had different goals for the electoral contest. The bet of self-reliance was the priority for the ruling party and the formation of a progressive government from the first ballot for the official opposition. Both “fighters” believe that the time distance until the elections will be a catalytic factor in order for the anti-systemic vote, which now appears to be increased, not to take on large dimensions. For the New Democracy, the goal of an absolute majority in the second ballot seems to be quite difficult, but not impossible, according to many officials. She tries to entrench her space both from the right and in the center. In the party camps there is the impression that it is a period when people do not want fights between politicians to dominate. Doing so will further strengthen the protest vote. It is possible that this assessment will remove in time a confrontation between the prime minister and the president of SYRIZA in the Parliament. In any case, the Production and Trade Committee will be convened on Wednesday, attended by Mr George Gerapetritiss answering the opposition’s questions.