Greece’s current political landscape is increasingly defined by mounting challenges facing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the ruling and centre-right New Democracy (ND) party. Domestic political pressures, including the aftermath of a 2025 EU agricultural subsidy scandal and the 2023 Tempi train disaster, are driving the ruling party to consider holding snap parliamentary elections before the constitutional due date in 2027. A partial cabinet reshuffle in June, officially framed as a generational renewal rather than crisis management, has further intensified this speculation.
The government faces intense domestic pressure over the aftermath of several high-profile scandals. The 2025 OPEKEPE agricultural fund fraud triggered a massive €392 million EU penalty and forced parliament to lift the immunity of several MPs. Furthermore, the ongoing trial of the 2023 Tempi train disaster fuels persistent criticism, while the unresolved 2022 Predator spyware wiretapping case continues to invite fierce opposition backlash despite officials being judicially cleared.
In parallel, Greece’s party system is undergoing significant fragmentation ahead of the next electoral cycle. Former left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras launched the Hellenic Left Alliance (ELAS), rapidly climbing to 15% in polls and severely decimating SYRIZA, his former party. Other anti-establishment movements such as Maria Karystianou’s Hope for Democracy and Antonis Samaras’ prospective right-wing party mean further electoral challenges to ND’s traditional conservative base, while support for the ruling party fell to 30% compared to the 40% secured in the last parliamentary election.
This fragmentation threatens ND’s absolute majority, making a fractured multi-party parliament highly probable. The government may call a snap election to exploit opposition disarray, showcase policy achievements such as economic growth and tax reductions, and secure a mandate before Greece’s upcoming EU Presidency in 2027. Under the latter scenario, the snap vote could be announced shortly after the September Thessaloniki International Fair, which is traditionally used for major political announcements. However, the case for completing the electoral cycle is equally compelling, while the recent (and partial) government reshuffle also points toward this direction.
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