Kyriakos Mitsotakis is visiting northern Greece for two days, the third time in a month he has targeted a region where his party’s backing has fallen sharply since the 2023 election. This move coincides with the government rolling out new initiatives to win back middle-class voters, small businesses, and self-employed professionals—groups that were key to his party’s victory last year but have since become less supportive.
The prime minister’s schedule includes stops in Pieria and Thessaloniki, where he will promote economic aid linked to the International Fair of Thessaloniki and detail actions to address surging energy costs. A key part of this effort is expanding the 72-installment payment plan to 120 installments, with a minimum payment of €30, alongside new regulations for managing private debt. These adjustments reflect a direct attempt to regain voter confidence before upcoming elections, as polls indicate the ruling party is losing ground in northern Greece, a region representing about 30% of the national electorate.
Support for New Democracy has declined significantly in the area since the June 2023 national election and the June 2024 European Parliament vote. In Thessaloniki’s 1st constituency, the party’s share dropped from 35.28% to 24.33%, while in Kastoria, it fell from 44.79% to 30.72%. In Florina, the party’s share fell from 34.42% to 25.37%. In Kozani, it dropped from 36.69% to 26.35%. In Chalkidiki, it went from 39.54% to 26.37%.
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This erosion aligns with broader trends, as the party’s vote share in northern Greece has weakened due to competition from right-wing opponents, including Kyriakos Velopoulos’ Greek Solution and Afroditi Latinou’s Voice of Logic. The region also faces economic challenges, with rising energy prices and living costs fueling political dissatisfaction. The government’s new measures, such as extended payment plans and debt relief, aim to address these pressures by reducing financial burdens on households and businesses.
The visit’s timing reflects the region’s growing importance to the ruling party, given its electoral weight and the risk of further losses to smaller conservative factions. Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, highlights the region’s influence on national political trends. However, the effectiveness of recent policies remains unclear. While the government presents the installment expansion and debt rules as a response to public demands, the impact of these measures has yet to be fully assessed.
The 72-to-120-installment adjustment is part of the government’s efforts to ease financial pressure, with a minimum €30 payment requirement. The new private debt regulations aim to introduce measures for better management, though specifics remain unspecified.
