A poll released on Friday showed the ruling New Democracy (ND) leading the main opposition, SYRIZA, by 13.5 points, two days before the June 9 European elections.
The poll, conducted by PULSE for SKAI TV, put New Democracy at 28%, SYRIZA at 14.5%, PASOK at 11.5%, the nationalist Greek Solution at 7.5%, the communist KKE at 7%, the left-wing Course for Freedom at 3%, the religious nationalist Niki at 3%, Yannis Varoufakis’ Mera25 at 3%, and the New Left at 3%. In Greece, the electoral threshold for entering the European Parliament is 3%.
Who To Vote For?
In his latest TV interview on Friday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged voters to recognize the significance of these elections and to make the effort to vote, addressing concerns about a potential high abstention rate on election Sunday.
“I hope this scenario does not unfold and that citizens grasp the importance of these elections,” he remarked. Mitsotakis acknowledged the fatigue many feel with frequent elections but stressed the importance of participation. “Despite election fatigue and favourable weather, participation is crucial. We cannot afford high abstention rates, as important decisions for Europe’s future will be made in the coming years.”
Mitsotakis reiterated New Democracy’s slogan, “steadily, closer to Europe,” emphasizing the implications of the election outcomes on crucial issues like the new Recovery Fund, defence funds, and agricultural policies. He emphasized that these decisions would have national implications and urged voters to draw political conclusions accordingly, setting New Democracy’s target at the percentage it received in the previous European elections.
Meanwhile, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis delivered a scathing critique of the New Democracy government during his pre-election speech in Syntagma Square. Accusing Mitsotakis of attempting to undermine him, Kasselakis referenced media reports on the prime minister’s wealth declaration and accused him of intentionally delaying the platform’s opening to embarrass him. Kasselakis also outlined his party’s proposals for increasing social security spending by taxing oligopolies and advocated for public coverage of certain aspects of the private health sector and electricity. He criticized other left-leaning opposition parties for targeting him instead of challenging the government’s neoliberal policies.
On the other hand, opposition PASOK-Movement for Change leader Nikos Androulakis highlighted the historic opportunity for change on June 9. He urged voters to support PASOK for a credible opposition to New Democracy, a strong centre-left alternative, and to strengthen European socialists advocating for a fairer Europe. Androulakis warned against granting Mitsotakis a strong mandate, predicting a worsening of arrogance, corruption, and inefficiency. He expressed his goal of making PASOK the rallying point for progressive citizens and democrats once again.