Antonis Samaras to announce new political party in September

Former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is accelerating plans to establish a new political party, with announcements expected within September. Previously, discussions suggested the party would be formed closer to the next general election, but Samaras's team has opted for an earlier launch to establish a formal presence in opinion polls and organize a structural foundation.

This strategic shift is driven by rising support in recent polls. According to Pulse data for SKAI, the percentage of respondents who stated they would "definitely" vote for a party led by Samaras rose to 5% in July, up from 3% in June, while an additional 8% replied they "probably" would.

While Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has stated that elections will not occur this autumn, Samaras's associates remain cautious about the possibility of a political surprise or early elections. The emergence of this new party is viewed as a potential challenge to the political dominance of New Democracy, particularly among conservative voters.