Greek elections: Mitsotakis vs Tsipras and Androulakis in the final stretch – The debate and the undecided

Political leaders open a new cycle of almost daily pre-election appearances, in the final stretch of four weeks for the election contest, with the battle now becoming personal. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Alexis Tsipras, Nikos Androulakis “conversing” in high tones from a distance, each putting their own dividing lines, formulating dilemmas and drawing a line of fierce attacks.

Shortly before the official announcement of the elections and immediately after, during the first open gathering in Crete, Mitsotakis unfolded the strategy he will follow until May 21: a frontal attack on SYRIZA and continuous pressure on PASOK to provide answers for their own governance proposals.

“Overtures”

In this context, the clear “openings” attempted by Mitsotakis to PASOK voters are included: with warnings in effect that their vote may end up in Tsipras for the position of prime minister and Yanis Varoufakis for the finance ministry.

“I don’t believe a word of what he says” is the prime minister’s indicative disgust for Alexis Tsipras, seeking to mobilize those voters who are not excited about a repeat of 2015. Those who return to PASOK and those who are still weighing their options, remaining in the undecided zone (undecided/No answer respondents).

In polls that New Democracy has in mind, there is a portion of PASOK voters who do not wish for an alliance with SYRIZA, and Mitsotakis is targeting them with the “central question” of the ballot “do we want ND with Prime Minister Mitsotakis or SYRIZA with Prime Minister Tsipras”.

Mitsotakis is running on an independent single-party government ticket, while Tsipras and Androulakis for “change”.

The twilight zone

In the meantime, the undecided zone is measured at 13.2% in the first poll published after the announcement of the elections (Metron Analysis/”Step of Sunday”) with specific data on its party origin. The undecided voters along with the poll bar of “I don’t answer” come mainly from the ND at a rate of 19%.

It is followed by SYRIZA (10%), the other parties (5%) and PASOK (4%), with all that this implies for the need for the government and official opposition to claim the “skeptics”. The center-right faction wants to present to citizens as “the only reliable” proposal of the ND, which clearly highlights its (only) goal: self-reliance for Prime Minister Mitsotakis and enlargements through the utilization of “currents, ideas and persons” that do not necessarily belong in the blue family.

Even if the “votes” do not come out, according to the opinion polls so far, for the so-called “co-government of the losers” while, moreover, this scenario conflicts with the terms and denials of each side, Maximou considers that this is a strategic pursuit of Koumoundourou. And in any case, he will bring the possibility into the public sphere – it is, according to his words from Crete, “not very likely, but under certain conditions possible”.

Time of inter-party debate

At the same time, new episodes in the clash between Mitsotakis and Tsipras are immediately brought about by the discussion about the possibility of a televised debate. The president of SYRIZA has every reason to push for a duel, that is, for a debate between Mitsotakis and Tsipras, while New Democracy refers to the meeting of the relevant inter-party committee.

This will be convened and will meet for the first time, according to plan, within the week, under the new acting minister of the interior, Kalliopi Spanou, who has been tasked with running all the procedures for the elections.

In an attempt to open a pace, to take the lead, SYRIZA, through representative Popi Tsapanidou, requested two debates: both with all the political leaders and one between Tsipras and Mitsotakis. In addition, he asked the polling companies to publish the primary and unweighted data of theirpolls.

The response of the new New Democracy representative, Akis Skertsou, came only with regard to the issue of polls with accusations that the main opposition is questioning them against any concept of ethics. “We’ll see you at the inter-party meeting” is the government’s stance on the debate.

The information says that New Democracy will table the following position: “in principle yes” to the debate in the presence of the other leaders. “With a clear framework, with rules that will ensure a lively dialogue and with an expanded agenda”, as the Prime Minister’s associates point out.