Stratos Simopoulos sent a clear political message ahead of the upcoming national elections, arguing that the key issue for the country will be the stability and ability of New Democracy.

Speaking to ERTnews, the parliamentary spokesperson for the ruling party appeared optimistic about the party’s electoral prospects, despite the fact that current polls show the party falling short of the threshold for an absolute majority.

As he noted, there is still plenty of time before the 2027 elections for the government to present new initiatives, reforms, and additional measures that will strengthen its relationship with the public. In fact, he did not rule out the possibility that New Democracy could secure an absolute majority even in the first round of voting, recalling that even before the 2023 elections, many considered this goal difficult to achieve—a view that was ultimately disproved by the election results. 

“We may even be self-sufficient from the very first ballot,” he noted, attempting to show that the political landscape could change significantly by the next election.

Referring to criticism from opposition parties regarding the issue of inflation, the New Democracy parliamentary spokesperson argued that the government has already implemented more substantial measures than those proposed by PASOK and SYRIZA. As an example, he cited tax relief for young workers, with a full tax exemption until the age of 25 and reduced taxation for citizens aged 25 to 30. According to him, this specific measure has greater fiscal value and effectiveness compared to other proposals submitted by the opposition.

At the same time, he noted that the government continues to develop policies that will boost citizens’ disposable income, while leaving open the possibility of new measures for self-employed professionals and businesses, provided that fiscal conditions allow it.

Mr. Simopoulos also referred to the possibility of post-election coalitions, arguing that the stance of the opposition parties strengthens the case for a single-party government.  “Since even PASOK, which could be a potential coalition partner, is saying no, the problem lies with the opposition, not the government,” he noted.

According to him, citizens will be called upon to choose between a self-sufficient New Democracy government and a coalition of opposition parties, which he characterized as “a government of losers.” Of particular interest were his comments regarding scenarios for the creation of a new political party by former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. When asked about this possibility, he stated that he hopes such a development will not occur.

“I hope he doesn’t push the button,” he said characteristically, expressing his desire to avoid a new split within the center-right. At the same time, he assessed that even if the formation of a new party goes ahead, it will mainly appeal to voters who have already drifted away from New Democracy in recent years, though he did not rule out some losses from the ruling party’s current voter base. As he emphasized, he remains committed to the goal of a single-party government and political stability, believing that this is the best option for the country in the upcoming election.