The “Syriza boat” of Stefanos Kasselakis, the boat with which he has been touring the Aegean islands for a week sharing love, compassion and support to the forgotten locals, has almost reached its destination. On Holy Monday (29/4) he will now be in Skyros, having completed the “circumference” of the archipelago and from there the president of SYRIZA will set foot again on mainland Greece to “run”, immediately after Easter, the last stage of the euro campaign.
The six weeks until June 9th is not long, especially since some days will be “lost” due to the holiday season that follows. So a (long) sprint will follow that will lead to the final destination.
From rough seas to a quiet harbor
The political “storms” that Stefanos Kasselakis encounters, he wants to believe that he is adequately in command of them. At least until the European elections, the ship does not seem to be sinking.
He holds his steering wheel firmly and with his unrestrained self-confidence as a compass, he tries to lead his party from the troubled waters left by the double crash of 2023 to the calm of an unexpected “prevail”.
SYRIZA will not be the first party in this electoral battle, nor does it appear from anywhere that this version can be verified at the ballot box. However, as long as it “locks” the second place, even opening the distance from the third PaSoK, the presidential ambitions for something more will multiply.
In the Koumoundourou building they are now discussing openly about 17% and more “conspiratorially” even about the percentage that will have 2 in front of it. In the second case there is talk of a fifth seat and a single-digit difference from the “wounded” New Democracy – a combination who pursue him in order to stir the waters.
Ethereal or knowledgeable about the situation, it will be seen in the result. Possibly their dreams will sink offshore. But does anyone rule out the opposite happening and on the night of June 9, they will be in the foam and their main political opponents will be looking for a lifeline to save themselves?
Second place for sure, as long as…
The fluidity of the political scene is unpredictable. Even experienced analysts are not in that safe position that will allow them to estimate the exact dynamics of SYRIZA under Kasselakis. It is the first time that he will be tested as a leader, so the condition that is created is unprecedented and inaccessible to pollsters.
What is generally accepted at the moment is that the main opposition party has shown in recent weeks a stable vote estimation percentage which hovers around 15%. In other words, it is consolidated in second place and is not in danger of losing it.
Provided, of course, that those who declare that they will vote for SYRIZA in the European elections, will go to the polling stations. Since these are mainly younger people, who have traditionally abstained, it remains questionable whether they will be persuaded to exercise their right by giving substance to the “verbal” or “online” vote of the polls.
Anyway, St. Kasselakis has bet on himself to get the “couch” vote, the vote of those who systematically prefer not to spend 15-20 minutes of their Sunday, hoping that he will convince them to hurry by supporting his own narrative.
He himself knows that the increase in participation benefits the opposition parties, especially those that openly challenge the government and claim power.
Those who do not openly support Kasselakis
This is the one axis. The other, according to experts who look behind the numbers of the measurements, concerns those who choose to be drawn up with the “inconclusive vote”. Instead of speaking openly, they prefer not to publicize their opinion and maintain its “anonymity”.
It is estimated by analysts, who reverse the question, that SYRIZA cannot be ruled out to win a significant piece of this electoral pie. Because these are voters who do not wish to declare that they will vote for “Kasselakis”.
Perhaps this is the parameter that Koumoundourou considers capable of overturning the existing regime and giving their party an unexpected percentage when the term will have expired and the nation-wide counting of votes will begin.
And if it was clarified in every direction, despite the slippage of cousin Vassilis Kasselakis, that SYRIZA does not at all seek to reap the “orphan votes” of the Spartans, no one can predict with certainty where they will go or how they will act at the end of day all those whose “biggest enemy is Mitsotakis”.
Obviously, the largest portion will end up in similar style and rhetorical combinations (Greek Solution, VICTORY, Voice of Reason). On the other hand, some show a preference for opposition poles just to challenge the sovereignty of the current prime minister.
The recovery of rates in the islands
With all the above in mind, because his communications team gathers every element and evaluates every possible or unlikely scenario, the leader of SYRIZA insists on saying, not by chance, that the first place in the European elections is neither impossible nor improbable, referring to a new interview of “some polls that are also known to Maximos”.
No skydiving was found on so many Aegean islands in such a short period of time. His tour was organized in every detail, even if there were minor setbacks, so as to impress the view that no one is considered a “second-class citizen” no matter how far they live from the urban centers of decision-making.
He went “where no other political leader will ever go, because he has no big liners, no airports, no five-star hotels,” as he wrote in his account.
A week ago, with 10 partners in a small rented boat, with 7 Beauforts, we made the bet to reach every islander.
Where no other political leader will ever go, because it has no large liners, no airports, no five-star hotels.
What’s in here?… pic.twitter.com/lfWcMf4nGs
— Stefanos Kasselakis (@skasselakis) April 26, 2024
In this excursion, Stefanos Kasselakis visited hospitals, churches, camps, markets, and talked to many people. He has already seen indigenous actors with a foothold in the local communities in order to restore his party’s relationship with the local popular base and strengthen the current in his favor.
Within four years, from 2019 to 2023, SYRIZA had lost more than half of its strength in these places. More specifically…
- at Cyclades fell from 28.32% to 14.14%
- at Dodecanese from 29.73% to 13.07%
- at Lesvos from 29.01% to 13.49%
- at Chios from 22.14% to 10.52%
- at Samo from 29.08% to 14.88%
…ending in some cases third or fourth party.
That is why the goal is the gradual recovery of lost trust and the relationship with the electorate. That is, what he also claims in Crete, where he had been a short time ago.
On the same wavelength
It is also logical that executives who claim with increased chances – and as favorites now – the ticket for the European Parliament have joined the same plan.
Among them is Professor Nikolas Farandouris, who during his lightning trip to the United States and Great Britain (April 24-27) met representatives of organizations and actors of the diaspora, giving special value to those who will exercise their electoral right by postal vote.
Other candidates are also making sure to do the same (say Arvanitis, Tzampazis, Korovesi in Thessaloniki), as well as officials who adopt the presidential strategy and align themselves completely with St. Kasselakis.
And let her not be with him on the “cruise”.
#SYRIZA #Kasselakis #cruise #fishing #unclear #vote
