Key facts
- Senior officials in Greece's ruling New Democracy party are debating an early election this fall.
- The party's support has declined due to inflation and scandals.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has stated elections will occur in spring 2027.
- Some within the party are urging Mitsotakis to hold elections sooner to prevent opposition regrouping.
- A decision on early elections is anticipated by the end of summer.
- Recent government actions include a cabinet reshuffle and a bill to increase salaries for senior Orthodox church officials.
Senior officials within Greece's ruling New Democracy party are reportedly discussing the possibility of calling an early general election this fall, a move that would preempt the scheduled vote in spring 2027. This consideration comes as the party's support has reportedly fallen due to surging inflation, revelations of high-level fraud involving EU funds, and the government's handling of a major rail disaster.
While Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has publicly stated his intention to serve a full term, internal discussions among senior party members suggest an early election is being considered. The primary motivation appears to be capitalizing on the current fragmented state of the opposition before it can unite and gain momentum. New Democracy currently leads in polls, but no single party appears to have the support needed to form a majority government.
Recent actions by the government, including a minor cabinet reshuffle and a bill proposing salary increases for senior Orthodox church officials, are seen by some as preparations for a potential election campaign. The opposition, particularly the Pasok party, has been calling for early elections, while Alexis Tsipras' Elas party has indicated that corruption will be a central theme in their campaign, regardless of when the election is held.