It is somewhat risky for the Prime Minister to declare that he has 180 MPs in his pocket, eight months before the presidential election.

He did not say it quite like that; he made an estimation, as his associates clarified yesterday afternoon. However he may have said it though, his statement will probably yield the opposite result than the one he seeks.

  • Firstly, many of the independent MPs will feel awkward now that the Prime Minister is taking them for granted.
  • Secondly, the independent MPs do not agree with Samaras and Venizelos that a major project is taking place in the country. The two government parties claim that it will be difficult for an independent MP to dare to hinder the country’s path to growth and prosperity. However fifteen independent MPs were quick to support SYRIZA’s application for a referendum, aligning themselves with the opposition.
  • Thirdly, the DIMAR and ANEL MPs must now prove that they are not amongst Samaras’ 180 and that they have not made any secret deals with the government.
  • Fourthly and more importantly: How can the Prime Minister say that he is close to achieving a presidential majority when he has not even announced the candidate he will propose for the highest office?

Does the Prime Minister perhaps believe that those who will vote “yes” will do so irrespective of the candidate’s name?

If Fotis Kouvelis were a candidate, would he yield the same number of votes as if Failos Kranidiotis were a candidate? If there anyone who both Grigoris Psarianos and Nikitas Kaklamanis would vote for at the same time?

Or does Mr. Samaras believe that the independent MPs will vote for anyone, mere to extend their stay in Parliament and their wages?

In other words, anyone seriously claiming that achieving a presidential majority is an easy task is making a hasty estimation of the intentions of MPs.

Everything depends on two decisive factors that have not yet been revealed; the name of the candidate and the political climate at the time of the vote. These two factors have always determined the election of the president. These two factors will also determine it now.

Vasilis Chiotis