Scenarios for triple ballot - The pros and cons weighed by Maximos Mansion

The marathon election campaign for the May 25 polls started with tensions and dilemmas, without anyone being able to clear up if it will stop with the twin vote in the elections for the European Parliament and Local Government.

The opposition threat that it will block the procedures for electing the President of the Republic, to cause early elections in early 2015, keeps the scenario of a triple electoral fight alive.

The repeated remarks of premier Antonis Samaras that anyone who tries to take advantage of the upcoming presidential election "will bear the political cost," are indicative of the change taking shape in the government headquarters.

Indeed, the prime minister returned to the issue after the statement of opposition leader Alexis Tsipras that "the next President of the Republic shall be elected by a parliament under a SYRIZA majority." "We have no problem to hold them in 2015. But whoever will seek them, will also bear the political responsibility," Samaras said.

Reportedly, the Greek government is concerned about the possibility that the electoral marathon be continued beyond May, especially if there is a lead by the opposition forces.

Thus thoughts and reflections are formed on the possible politicization of the people’s verdict of May to present strong governance dilemmas before the people, especially as the period following the European elections will bring important decisions for the meta-memorandum Greece.

Milestones and polls

The government team is weighing the pros and cons, without taking decisions though, as two key milestones are stand in the middle:

- the presentation of to the February Eurogroup of the last, as the Greek side is hoping, report of the troika, which will reflect the estimates of the creditors for the financing needs of Greece during the current term and the requirements for covering the gap and the disbursement of the remaining tranches

- the announcement in April by Eurostat of the final data on the deficit and debt that will confirm a primary surplus in the 2013 budget and will pave the way for benefits in the crisis-affected groups and a new debt restructuring

A crucial role in the decision about how many times Greeks will vote in May, will be played at the coming polls and the impact on them of the big current court cases (armament programs, Hellenic Postbank, Lagarde list, Golden Dawn, etc.) and the high mobility observed in the area of the political center-left and center-right.