Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I categorically reject any discussion of early elections due to the rebound in polls

If the war continues, there will be repercussions for the Greek economy as well, says Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who firmly rejects both early elections and a cabinet reshuffle.

Explaining why he dismisses suggestions for early elections, Mitsotakis points out that political stability is a comparative advantage for the country.
“I will not lead the country to early elections, risking this argument that shows this government can take quick decisions and act for the benefit of citizens. My goal is to complete the electoral cycle,” the prime minister says in an interview with iefimerida.

At the same time, he also rules out a cabinet reshuffle: “At such a time we have a lot of work and a government team that is functioning satisfactorily,” he notes.

Speaking about the conflict in Iran, he stresses that if it continues and affects the flow of oil and natural gas, there will be consequences for both the European and the Greek economy. “We must be ready for all possibilities,” he warns.

Regarding possible additional measures, the prime minister says: “We never unfold all our interventions from the very first moment,” adding that “we have other support measures in mind.” He recalls that his government supported society both during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the energy crisis, while noting that developments will depend on how the situation evolves.

Asked about Greece’s response toward Cyprus with frigates, he notes that the immediate priority was the security of the country and the protection of Cyprus.
“We sent a clear message that Cyprus should not feel alone and we mobilized other European countries as well – even on our own we would have supported it.”

He also emphasizes that Greeks invested their sacrifices in strengthening the country’s deterrence capability.
“We feel satisfaction and pride when our Armed Forces, in a critical moment, can rise to the occasion,” Mitsotakis says, adding pointedly:
“Once the order was given, the Minister of Defense made the recommendation, I accepted it, it was discussed by circulation in the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence, and within five hours the ships had sailed and the aircraft were in Cyprus the same day. What would have happened if we had a coalition government and I had to coordinate with other political leaders on whether to send frigates to Cyprus or not?”

Read the full interview of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with iefimerida and Sofia Giannaka.

Sofia Giannaka: Good morning, Mr. President.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Good morning, Ms. Giannaka.

Sofia Giannaka: Thank you very much for receiving us here, at the Maximos Mansion, for this conversation at a very difficult and critical moment with the developments in the Middle East. How serious are things?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Ms. Giannaka, we are facing an extensive regional conflict which has, unfortunately, also reached the doors of the European Union and which is currently unfolding in full, affecting the international economy, influencing oil prices, and potentially creating significant inflationary pressures.

Therefore, I cannot underestimate the scale of the crisis we are facing and the need to always rise to the occasion—whether to secure our country and Hellenism as a whole, to protect our sailors who are in the war zone, to conduct evacuation operations for Greeks still in Gulf countries under strain, or to address the short- and medium-term impacts this crisis will have on the Greek economy.

Sofia Giannaka: “Prepare for the unthinkable,” said the head of the International Monetary Fund recently. So things regarding the economic consequences, as you mentioned, are very serious.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Things could indeed become very serious if this war continues for long. Twenty percent of the world’s oil and 20% of liquefied natural gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz. So if this conflict continues and there are major disruptions in the physical flow of oil and natural gas, it will have very significant ripple effects on the global economy.

And obviously no economy can feel completely fortified. There will certainly be consequences for both the European and the Greek economy, and we must be ready for every possibility.

However, Ms. Giannaka, our immediate priority in recent days has been the security of the country and the protection of Cyprus. I attach great symbolic and practical importance to our quick decision to deploy an air-naval force first to Cyprus to support Cypriot Hellenism.

In this way we sent a clear message that Cyprus should never feel alone, while we also mobilized other European countries. The result is that today a significant European force is present in Cyprus, securing it as European territory. This is an important European achievement.

I would say it is essentially the practical application of the defense clause provided in the European treaties, which was tested in practice and implemented through Greece’s initiative and later France, via the strong European presence now in Cyprus.

And one more thing I believe is important: Greek citizens invested their sacrifices in the country’s deterrent capability. We all feel satisfaction and pride when we see that our Armed Forces, at a critical moment, can rise to the occasion, respond, support the needs of Cyprus, and support the needs of Bulgaria. The Minister of Defense is today in Bulgaria, which asked for our assistance in case it is also targeted by ballistic missiles from Iran.

This certainly upgrades the country’s overall position and also sends a message to Greek society that all these sacrifices were not in vain, that today we have strong Armed Forces capable of responding during a crisis.

Sofia Giannaka: It was indeed a historic move you made in Cyprus, we will return to that shortly. Let me stay on the intervention in Iran, Mr. President…