Chasing the Greek diaspora vote

A simple exhortation by Kyriakos Mitsotakis to executives and members of the New Democracy party, a few days ago, in London, hides behind it a special project (both government and party), which will begin to unfold in the coming weeks. “I recommend that you register on the platform and keep the option if you want to vote from abroad (…) Unless you are absolutely sure that you want to participate in both elections in Greece,” said the prime minister from the Mayfair district, where a gathering of the most active foreign organizations of the blue faction took place.

It was a direct exhortation to those present to enter the platform of the Ministry of the Interior to be able (those entitled) to vote from their place of residence, without boarding the plane for Greece – twice.

The Prime Minister’s reference was not off the cuff. Official data on the number of those who have registered on the platform of the Ministry of the Interior is disappointing the New Democracy party. There are currently fewer than 4,000 voter registrations from abroad.

Two-pronged campaign

This is where a new- “aggressive” according to the so-called blue cadres – campaign begins. Both the government and the party are trying again to “hunt” for the diaspora vote. On the one hand, a stronger mobilization of consular authorities is requested in order to inform Greeks abroad about the law which was passed in 2019 by a record number of 288 MPs. In New York, for example, such a campaign will run in the coming weeks.

On the other hand, at the party headquarters, teleconferences are taking place with the heads of organizations abroad, but in addition, new moves are being prepared: from sending newsletters to the operation of a call center in the party in order to solve questions, provide information, and clarify misunderstandings.

Why is New Democracy betting on a larger number of registered users?

There are two reasons why the ruling faction is betting on increasing the number of people registered on the platform until the time of the election. One has to do with the fact that the conservative party consider themselves to be much further ahead in party organization outside the borders than their political opponents. And this given that especially in view of simple proportional “every vote counts”, as they say in the blue camp.

The second reason has more to do with the day after. The government’s intention is to change – if the conditions are met in the next Parliament – the legislation, so that the current restrictions no longer exist (in the last 35 years they must have lived in Greece for two years and have submitted a tax return in the current or previous tax year year). That is, what had emerged during the search for cross-party consensus in 2019 in order to pass the bill. The rationale is simple: the stronger the turnout, the more likely a new lever of pressure will then present itself in order to reopen the legislation at some point.