By Antonis Anzoletou

Both New Democracy and SYRIZA constantly repeat that the ballot box on the morning of June 25 will be empty. The views of the two parties on the “zeroing of the counter” are different. In Koumoundourou, they are hoping for a restart by erasing as much as possible the previous election contest. From Piraeus, they see the “traps” hidden by the triumph of the enhanced analogue ballot box and ask for the attendance of the people who supported them.

THE Kyriakos Mitsotakis managed after a four-year very turbulent period of government to gather 2,407,860 votes, 156,242 more than in 2019. This is the basis on which he wants to move. Let not a single cross be lost and of course let the narrative that SYRIZA is crafting about “uncontrolled and hegemonic power” not find suitable ground.

The first risk is its top executives New Republic who were elected and have secured their seats to “throw gears”. They are already tired from the previous election and 40.79% can create conditions of “relaxation”. If this image of dissonance and “summer raston” is transferred to the electorate that trusted the “blue faction”, the goal of the large majority claimed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the next Parliament may run into “adventures”. This is why the alarm has been sounded and the districts of all the top MPs – former ministers have already been divided in the new election campaign that has already started.

The second danger is that of arrogance which the president of the New Democracy equally “exorcises”. And for this, statements about 180 MPs and the revision of the Constitution were “collected” immediately. Provocative and arrogant attitudes towards political opponents are out of context and planning and are already ringing several “bells”. The high mobility recorded on the right of New Democracy is also closely monitored. Mainly in northern Greece. The Hellenic Solution had increased percentages compared to four years ago in several regions of Macedonia, while NIKI also “flirted” with entering the Parliament. A lot has even been heard about the involvement of holy monasteries in the pre-election campaign, a fact that caused the reaction of Archbishop Ieronymos. In Pieria New Democracy won, but lost 6.36% and in Drama 4.5 points. All the results are now put under the “microscope”. And it’s not just the parties from the “right-wing apartment building”. If, in addition to NIKI, Pleussi Eleftherias or MeRA25 manage to overcome the 3% limit and enter the Parliament, then the bar of self-reliance will rise a lot and things will be difficult for Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It is something, after all, that the prime minister constantly repeats.

What is the “key” to success? The New Democracy should not lose any of its strength, as it will need a percentage of more than 38% in the event that the parties that remain outside the Parliament move to the percentages of 2019, i.e. to 8%. New Democracy would have 171 seats and not 146 if the previous elections were held with the enhanced proportional representation that was voted in the previous four years. But will 16% of the participating parties be out of Parliament again? “Difficult,” say most pollsters. A new entry at least is considered very likely.

The center battle will also be tough. The PASOK he wishes to further increase his powers. Against the “governability” of the New Democracy, he presents himself as a shaper of a landscape that is reconstructed in the middle space. He wishes to reach out to the Pasokogeni voters of the blue faction in order to return to their old “lures”. At the same time, SYRIZA, which ardently wishes to increase its percentages, guarantees that it is the only way out for a strong opposition to New Democracy. And he will seek to get back those who were transferred directly from Koumoundourou to Piraeus Street.