Greece’s ruling New Democracy party is considering holding a snap parliamentary election this autumn to secure its lead before the opposition can consolidate.
Although Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis publicly maintains that the government will serve its full term until spring 2027, internal party sources confirm that discussions are underway for a vote in late September or October.
New Democracy’s approval ratings have declined since its 2023 election victory due to persistent inflation, investigations into the mismanagement of EU funds, and the aftermath of the country’s worst rail disaster.
However, according to recent polling data, the party maintains a significant lead with 30 percent of the vote, nearly doubling the support of its closest rival, the newly formed Ellas party led by Alexis Tsipras, which stands at 16 percent. The opposition socialist party, PASOK, also continues to call for early elections despite lagging further behind.
Because current data indicates that no single party meets the 37 to 40 percent threshold required to form a majority government, the ruling party’s strategy relies on holding elections before the fragmented opposition can organize a unified front. Several administrative shifts signal that the government is already preparing the groundwork for an electoral campaign.
Government officials report that ministries have been ordered to complete their current agendas by the end of August to give the Prime Minister the flexibility to trigger the vote. Additionally, Mitsotakis recently enacted a minor cabinet reshuffle, introducing four new officials into three ministries, and appointed 39-year-old hardliner Konstantinos Kyranakis as the new Secretary-General of New Democracy to mobilize the party’s base.
A final decision is expected by the end of summer, and if approved, the election will likely be announced after the Prime Minister’s address at the Thessaloniki International Fair in early September. This timeline is strictly bound by international commitments, as Greece is scheduled to assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2027, requiring a stable administration to be established well in advance.