Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ decision to kick-start the process of constitutional revision carries multiple political messages—and in Greece’s fluid, pre-election environment, its timing is especially significant.
Constitutional revision in Greece is the highest-level institutional process for amending the country’s founding legal framework. It requires complex parliamentary majorities across two successive parliaments, making consensus both necessary and politically charged.
A reform narrative under strain
On one level, the initiative is meant to signal a reboot: a renewed commitment by the ruling New Democracy party to deep structural reforms. Reformism has long been central to Mitsotakis’ political brand.
Yet this narrative now collides with the government’s record. Critics point to institutional shortcomings and perceived retreats from rule-of-law principles—issues such as declining trust in institutions, corruption, and lack of transparency. Under this weight, the government’s reform message has lost momentum.
Reform was once Mitsotakis’ strongest political asset, helping him appeal to a broad centrist audience. Over time, however, parts of that audience have distanced themselves, expressing skepticism toward the government’s reform credentials—a trend consistently reflected in opinion polls.
The anxiety at Maximos Mansion
Mitsotakis’ recent pledge that “it is time to dare bold reforms that strengthen institutional credibility and citizens’ trust” effectively acknowledges this gap.
It also reveals concern within the Prime Minister’s office (known in Greece as the Maximos Mansion) about reconnecting with voters who have grown wary of government promises. For this reason, Mitsotakis is expected to open a wide range of constitutional provisions for discussion—possibly even the electoral law itself.
The constitutional reform card also serves another purpose: shifting the political agenda away from scandals that have weighed on the government, including the wiretapping affair and the OPEKEPE subsidy controversy (OPEKEPE is the state body managing EU agricultural funds), both of which have reinforced perceptions of an institutional deficit.
A pressure tool aimed at PASOK
The accelerated timeline is also a strategic move toward the opposition, especially PASOK—the center-left party and New Democracy’s main rival for centrist voters.
The provisions selected by the current parliament for revision require broad consensus. That is inherent to the constitutional process: it is designed to force convergence.
For the government, constitutional reform can function as leverage to push PASOK to agree to proposed changes. PASOK’s support is crucial if the government hopes to secure the 180-vote supermajority needed in this parliament. Achieving that threshold would allow the next, “revisional” parliament to pass the amendments with a simple majority of 151 MPs.
So far, PASOK appears reluctant to cooperate, setting the stage for both institutional and political confrontation—with an eye on upcoming elections and potential post-election alliances.
Early election scenarios resurface
A third interpretation of Mitsotakis’ timing has revived speculation about early elections.
Despite the prime minister’s assurances to the contrary, some analysts do not rule out a snap vote. At minimum, the move could help create a “clear runway” that would allow elections in the autumn if necessary.
Such a scenario could coincide with the Thessaloniki International Fair (known in Greece as the DETH), where prime ministers traditionally unveil major economic pledges—often the last significant policy announcements before elections.
New Democracy’s political bet
Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and a fragmented, polarized domestic landscape, constitutional revision—along with New Democracy’s party congress in May—forms a key political wager.
For the ruling party’s leadership, both processes are tools to rally supporters, consolidate alliances, and mobilize political forces ahead of the next electoral battle.
Whether this constitutional initiative becomes a genuine reform milestone or primarily a strategic political maneuver will likely be judged at the ballot box.
