By Antonis Anzoletou

The 41% achieved by Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the June polls predicted that 12 months later the prime minister would make a “walk” in the European elections. Not that the dominance of the blue faction is threatened, but the facts are very different and the two months remaining until the polls are very critical. For New Democracy there is the magic number “3” which she wants to have ahead of her rate. And this is what the Piraeus staffs work for. In the nine European election contests that have taken place so far in 2014 alone, the winner had emerged with a percentage of less than 30%. Ten years ago, SYRIZA and Alexis Tsipras taking a “move” to take power, reaching 26.56%, had surpassed the New Democracy (22.72%) of Antonis Samaras. The low numbers were a consequence of the fatigue of the people who, due to the memorandums and the economic crisis, had punished the traditional major parties (ND – PASOK) in the double ballots of 2012.

In fact, it has not been addressed largely, the opposition to pressure the government for it tempe disaster, the case of leaked emails from the Ministry of the Interior to be in the foreground, as well as the wiretapping to return, the blue faction has received many shots recently. The “equation” must also include the five years that the government already has on its “back” with the normal wear and tear it has, as well as the security issues that the opposition constantly brings to the fore especially after the catastrophic floods in Thessaly. Demographically, it seems to be holding up, maintaining a percentage of more than 30% in the vote estimate and keeping a distance of more than 17% from SYRIZA and PASOK. Nevertheless, the majority know that the European elections are the best opportunity for a protest vote, while abstention is another “enemy”.

It is no coincidence that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has connected the June 9 vote with political stability in the country. Addressing mainly the voters of the center who are vacillating between SYRIZA and PASOK, but have not decided which ballot box they will end up with. It is the step that the ruling faction wants to climb in order to proceed smoothly and without “tremblings” for the next three years at the helm of the country. In an interview he gave yesterday to ANT1 and in an attempt to rally his faction, the prime minister said that Stefanos Kasselakis and Kyriakos Velopoulos remind Alexis Tsipras and Panos Kammenos. It was an attempt by Kyriakos Mitsotakis to identify the two areas that are “fishing” in anti-systemic “waters”, but also to bring back to the table the “boom” of the SYRIZA – ANEL government.

In Herodos Attikou they know that the time left until the parliamentary elections is enough and everything can be overturned. A percentage close to the 2019 result (33.12%) would be a strong morale booster and a resounding response to challenge from political opponents. Anyway, o the prime minister will have the opportunity after the European elections to see the corrective moves he must make in the government structure in order to signal a “restart”. He has already passed difficult bills such as marriage for same-sex couples and the establishment of private universities. Helping the government is that in the economic sector it shows that it has room to produce results and positive news.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis has proven from his previous term that he is not a fan of surprises and resorting to early elections is not something that is considered possible with the existing conditions. He made it clear, after all, from Thessaloniki. The parliamentary majority it has is strong and if there are developments with the Spartans, it is possible that New Democracy will win another 5-6 MPs.