By Penelope Galliou

The government is measuring its strength after yesterday’s disruptive result of the self-governing elections, which according to government officials was lower than its expectations and the goal it had set, both at the level of the large municipalities, Athens and Thessalonikias well as at regional level, where it was defeated in five of the six regions that were taken to the second round.

Attempting to “radiate” the result and proceed to decode the message of the ballot box, the estimates of the government officials focus on the counter-mobilization of all the other political forces against the ND, while it is estimated that the persons who fought and won the local communities also played a decisive role , given that many winners do not come from other opposition parties but came down as independents or as “rebels” as they come from the ND area, a fact commented that the choice by the voters especially of the so-called “rebels” “does not mean that they are political differentiation” commented a government official. The “rebels” in any case enter with special weight in the balance of the causes that led to the subversive result, as they were the opponents of the SW in most of the “derbies” of the second round, as a result of which it was allowed to create a front, in addition to the opposition, against the government.

According to the first estimates, it is also considered that the government failed to convince that the second “battle” of the local elections is as important as the first, with the result that many of the voters did not go to vote.

For several government officials, however, with a self-criticism, from the election night, the conclusion is drawn that you should not take society for granted, considering that the celebration and the persistent repetition of the goals of the self-governing elections regarding districts and coloring of the electoral map, may have had a negative effect on the electorate. In any case, the assessment is widespread that the government must intensify its efforts and regain trust, especially in matters critical to everyday life and the lives of citizens.

With messages within his faction but also to his political opponents, the prime minister commented on the reversal of the second ballot during his statements, receiving in turn the messages of the voters. “I will only say one thing: the government must walk with its feet well grounded, on the earth. To receive political messages at all times and to fight with all its might to improve the everyday life of Greek citizens. This is what we will continue to do, with an emphasis on our reform agenda, on the political agenda” Kyriakos Mitsotakis interpreted within the government and the party as a whole.

At the same time, Mr Prime Minister it also sent a message of restraint to the opposition parties who rushed to celebrate even for candidates who did not officially support or from the first Sunday the winners. “For those who are in a hurry to celebrate, possibly drawing conclusions that do not correspond to the real political balances, let me remind you that we had national elections three months ago in which the strength of the parties was recorded with absolute clarity,” stressed Mr. Mitsotakis, pledging for cooperation with all the newly elected local rulers.

However, referring to the conclusions from the election results, the president of the ND noted that “it was certainly not a particularly good night for the New Democracy, but I want to remind you that the political conclusions regarding the distribution of the parties’ powers were actually made last Sunday, on the first Sunday”.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also focused on the gathering of forces against the ND stressing that “It is clear that there was a counter-gathering of many forces against New Democracy candidates” while the large abstention in these elections also gave food for thought. “I want to point out the particularly low turnout in this ballot box, which I think should concern us all,” remarked the prime minister.