Main opposition New Democracy appears certain that the PM will call snap elections, despite Alexis Tsipras’ persistent denials.

The projection is based on the belief that SYRIZA cannot withstand the impact of tough social policies until September, 2019, and that Tsipras will seek a moment when he believes he can best cut his losses to call elections.

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has thrown down the gauntlet, once again calling on the PM to hold elections, and preparing the conservative party’s political machine for the electoral battle.

The government’s platform appears to be a clean exit from the bailout memorandum. It is celebrating the huge primary surplus of over four percent that it achieved in 2017, but at the same time there is unrest in the party over unpopular policies such as new pension cuts, which take effect at the start of 2019.

Still, Interior Minister Panos Skourletis recently stated that elections must be held at the end of the government’s four-year term, and he even raised the prospect of double general elections and local elections on 13 October, 2019.

“We are answering the government’s propaganda about a supposed clean exit from the bailout memorandums. If they mean what they say hypocritically, let them put it to the judgment of the Greek people. If they are not afraid of New Democracy, let them compete with us,” Mitsotakis told his shadow cabinet.

Ειδήσεις Σήμερα: