Greek PM Mitsotakis rules out autumn elections and coalition with former premier Samaras

Election timetable confirmed

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in an interview on OPEN TV on July 24, 2026, stated unequivocally that national elections will not be held in the autumn. He confirmed the government will serve out its full four-year term, with the next polls scheduled for spring 2027. "The elections will not take place in autumn," he said, adding that the pre-election period for New Democracy began the day after the 2023 elections. He attributed the recent flurry of government activity to routine implementation of its programme rather than early campaigning. Mitsotakis stressed that timelines are driven by government priorities, not electoral calculations.

No room for Samaras

Mitsotakis categorically ruled out any post-election cooperation with former prime minister Antonis Samaras, who has hinted at forming a rival party. "There is no field of understanding" with Samaras, the PM said, describing hypothetical coalition scenarios as "amusing." He stressed that New Democracy would seek an outright majority, calling it a "necessary condition" given the lack of viable coalition partners. "I do not see a party with which we could cooperate, not through our own fault," he noted. When pressed on a potential Samaras-led faction entering parliament, Mitsotakis refused to engage with "three hypotheticals", whether Samaras forms a party, whether it enters parliament, and whether ND wins a majority.

There is no field of understanding.

Fiscal discipline and housing measures

The prime minister rejected calls to reintroduce a 13th monthly pension for retirees or to cut VAT, citing the need for fiscal prudence. "I will not open the purse or promise things I cannot deliver," he said. He emphasised that all policy pledges must be costed, especially in a country that has suffered from debt and false promises. He announced that from early September the government would turn its attention to small and medium-sized businesses and the self-employed, with tax relief measures to be unveiled at the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair. On housing, he acknowledged the strain on renters, promising that by the end of November, all tenants will receive back one month's rent. He noted that housing affordability is a challenge across Europe, and that Greece's policies are shaped by factors beyond the government's control, including ECB interest rates.

Infrastructure and governance

Mitsotakis highlighted the E65 motorway as a flagship infrastructure project, completed with financing from the EU Recovery Fund after it was taken over without secured funding. The highway will connect Epirus, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia, boosting regional development. He dismissed suggestions that his frequent regional tours signal an election campaign, insisting that he has been touring the regions almost every week since he was elected. He also addressed the OPEKEPE agricultural payments scandal, calling it a "chronic scandal" that the government finally tackled by transferring its functions to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue. He defended the government's handling of related European Public Prosecutor's Office cases, while noting that nine cases ultimately showed no substantial issue.

Opposition government dismissed

Responding to speculation about a "special purpose" government formed by opposition parties without him, Mitsotakis mocked the idea. "Is this a new scenario? Didn't they talk about a government of the losers in 2023?" he said. He sarcastically listed potential members: Androulakis, Tsipras, Konstantopoulou, Velopoulos, Koutsoumbas, and concluded, "Good luck." The jab underscored his confidence that a fractured opposition cannot offer a coherent alternative, reinforcing his push for single-party rule.