With the momentum from the first poll after presenting new support measures and following Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Athens, the government enters May leaving behind a difficult month: April began with parliamentary debate on the rule of law, continued with immunity waivers for 13 New Democracy MPs, and ended with an open letter from five MPs questioning the effectiveness of the executive state.
In both voting intention (28.7%) and estimated election results (32.2%), New Democracy is approximately one percentage point higher compared to the previous February measurement. PASOK gains half a point and stands at 13.5%, Course of Freedom loses two points dropping to 9.5%, while Greek Solution in fourth place loses 0.8% measuring at 9.2%. The Communist Party remains stable at 8%, SYRIZA rises 0.4 points to 6.8%, while Voice of Reason loses nearly one point standing at 3.4%. Below 3% and therefore outside Parliament remain Victory and New Left parties.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has decided to operate on two levels: international – which demonstrably gives him political and polling “points” – and domestic, with targeted benefit and relief measures. One such measure, without fiscal cost, comes through a Development Ministry bill protecting consumers from abusive practices regarding loans up to 100,000 euros without collateral security. “As we committed, we’re ending ‘fine print’ and irregular practices,” the prime minister wrote in his regular Sunday Facebook post, announcing this regulation. Explaining its parameters, he noted that henceforth there will be a maximum ceiling for consumer loan costs when repaid by borrowers, between 30%-50% above the borrowed capital, as applies on average in other European countries. Additionally, borrowers can cancel loans within 14 days of agreement. “These are regulations I believe create a clearer and fairer framework for everyone,” he stated in the same post.
Among initiatives for relieving energy costs is yesterday’s announcement from Aetolia-Acarnania by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou regarding Greece’s largest public cooperative photovoltaic park, institutionalized through the Ministry’s latest law passed last Thursday. Upon project completion, YPEN notes, energy cost reduction for beneficiaries is estimated to reach 62%, providing energy security to 147,000 farmers and citizens. The project gains strong social character, covering needs of 17,000 vulnerable households and directly affecting nearly 300,000 residents in twelve regional municipalities.
Regarding international contacts and initiatives, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet today at 11:45 AM with European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius and at 3:00 PM with German Foreign Minister Johann Vandefall at the Maximos Mansion. After these meetings – and following last Wednesday’s reception of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Maximos Mansion – the prime minister will travel this Wednesday, May 6, to Amman, Jordan, to participate in the Greece-Cyprus-Jordan Trilateral Summit. Additionally, at the award ceremony for former Italian prime minister and former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, the Greek prime minister will be the keynote speaker. Draghi will receive the international “Charlemagne Prize” – the most significant distinction for services to European unification – with the ceremony taking place in the German city of Aachen on May 14.
