New Democracy seeks to isolate former PM Antonis Samaras ahead of elections

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and New Democracy officials are pursuing a strategy of political isolation against former prime minister and New Democracy president Antonis Samaras. The party aims to prevent Samaras from attracting votes from disaffected “blue” supporters, warning that any vote for a Samaras‑led party could be interpreted as a protest against the government. Mitsotakis told supporters at the opening of a new road project in Evia, “It is a great honour to link my name with important infrastructure here,” while implicitly referencing Samaras as a political rival.

Analysts from the party’s think‑tank and allied right‑wing groups warn that Samaras’s prospective party could draw only a small share of the electorate – roughly one to two percent – but stress the need to contain even that level of dissent. Polls suggest potential influence on smaller right‑wing parties, while Samaras’s own camp claims he could mobilise up to one million former New Democracy voters. The maneuver is seen as crucial for New Democracy’s aim to secure a decisive share of the vote in the forthcoming spring 2027 elections.