Seventeen days before the polls open and a few 24 hours before the crucial debate of the leaders, the antagonism flares up at all levels. Partnerships and the dilemmas of the ballot box are still at the top of the agenda, today, however, the thermometer went up for two more issues. The removal of the import base, but also the management of investigative orders came to the table, causing new conflict between the government and SYRIZA. In the pre-election landscape, the state of the economy, in a setting of international uncertainty, has its own special place, while the VAT reduction has become one of the “contentious” issues.

The Mitsotakis-Tsipras strategies

The prime minister makes a bet to his own credibility against Mr. Tsipras, in the comparison of four years ND – SYRIZA, in the promotion of the ND program and its implementable proposals and the deconstruction of the SYRIZA program point by point, noting that it leads to a new memorandum, as its cost exceeds 80 billion euros.

The ND will not enter into any debate on the exploratory orders until election night, and will stay on the institutional side, seeking a very high turnout at the May 21 ballot in order to determine who will rule the next day and with what momentum. With a high percentage, Mr. Mitsotakis will seek independence in the second ballots, otherwise the debate changes.

According to Mr. Mitsotakis “we are clear, we say that we want to govern ourselves, because the country needs a stable government that can make quick decisions… On the other hand, there is an argument for progressive governance.”

“We are asking for a strong mandate for us to be the first party” Mr. Tsipras clarified for his part about the exploratory questions, speaking to ANT1, while he left points for the Varoufakis party, saying that “a government based on the tolerance of 3%, will not be strong, nor a government long-winded”. I want to form a four-year government, he clarified regarding his strategy. He recalled that Mr. Varoufakis, at a critical time for the country, was “recording the Eurogroup” and “trying to write a book and a film, to make himself a hero”.

The president of SYRIZA estimated that the ballot box on May 21 will show a government of cooperation between the first and third parties, “taking a picture” of PASOK. For Mr. Tsipras, SYRIZA’s first place on May 21 means political change, it is the condition for political change. “It means that the next day we will form a long-term and stable government,” he stressed.

Regarding the statement of Nikos Androulakis, in his interview with SKAI, that Alexis Tsipras is a gravedigger of Andreas Papandreou, the president of SYRIZA commented that “Mr. Androulakis he does not own Andreas. Andreas belongs to history.” “It should be respected that too many fellow travelers of Andreas have joined SYRIZA,” said Mr. Tsipras.

Nikos Androulakis insisted on the condition – neither Tsipras nor Mitsotakis prime minister – yesterday speaking to SKAI. He made it clear that the people will vote, even if they want Tsipras or Mitsotakis to be prime ministers, they will be with other parties and not with PASOK, preferring a third path with a face of common acceptance for prime minister.

KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoubas said a new “no” to a government of tolerance. Kyriakos Velopoulos clarified that his party is not discussing with anyone. “We are using the elections… as a means to build what our youth needs, the new great campaigning left” commented Yanis Varoufakis.

The dilemmas of the ballot box

The two contenders for power also raised the dilemmas of the ballot box on Thursday, with even greater intensity.

The prime minister asked if we want stability, confidence to be able to look to the future with optimism, or if we want to enter into adventures and experiments.

The president of SYRIZA asked if in the evening we want the big interests, the establishment and the oligarchs to celebrate… or in the evening for the people to go out on the streets to celebrate.

The pre-election duel extended and on the minimum import basis in Universities, which SYRIZA promises to abolish from this year, with Mr. Tsipras stating that the official opposition does not want to put barriers to access to higher education for children who have rudimentary potential to succeed.

Mr. Mitsotakis commented that we are not serving the students in this way, but we are making fun of them, we are essentially throwing ashes in their eyes.

High tones also prevail among the close associates of the political leaders, with the attitude of Kyriakos Mitsotakis towards the exploratory mandate for the formation of a government at the forefront.

Government spokesman Akis Skertsos stated that Mr. Mitsotakis is a serious, institutional politician. It will move within the limits of the Constitution. And the citizens will say what we will do with an investigation.

The government spokesman said today that he will use the exploratory mandate to form a government. Thus the dilemma of the elections became even clearer: Mitsotakis or change, answered SYRIZA representative Popi Tsapanidou.

Everyone, however, exorcises her relaxed voting and abstention.

The reduction of VAT on the pre-election agenda

As far as the economy is concerned, Popi Tsapanidou called Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his economic policies a “sad exception” yesterday, following the news that Cyprus has zeroed out VAT on basic food items. The SYRIZA-PS spokeswoman , points out that “Mr. Mitsotakis, however, insists on being a sad exception, keeping VAT at the same levels, while food prices continue to rise”. Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaking to the STAR about the exact moment later, he referred to its reduction VAT, and said that he insists that this is a measure that will not work. “It will be reduced gradually and in a targeted manner for all products during the four-year period,” he said anyway. “When we can be absolutely sure that the economy will grow at a pace we want, we will move into an environment to reduce VAT for everyone,” he clarified.

The increases we have given are permanent, the Prime Minister has clarified. I estimate, he noted, that the increases due to inflation will subside over a period of time, 3 months, 6 months while the increases are permanent. We will also explain why OECD data is not accurate for household purchasing power. That is why we set as a central goal a 25% increase in salaries in the private and public sector.”