Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stayed at the party’s headquarters at Syggrou Avenue until the small hours, talking on the phone with the party’s candidates for regional governors and mayors in order to get a general idea, draw firm conclusions and also to provide support for New Democracy candidates in the second round .
According to the government headquarters’ estimates, the outcome of the first round presents a significant opportunity for the following Sunday. Success in the second round will mitigate the effect of a possible negative result in European elections and will allow the government to continue its work, which is the main objective of Samaras. “The results are positive and indisputable” said the prime minister in a statement, presenting the following dilemma for the Greek people, regarding next Sunday: “It is in the hands of Greeks, either to contribute so the Greek people know that we will forge ahead with stable steps or let the country slide backwards” said the Prime Minister . He also noted that in the battle of European elections next Sunday “Greece must show it has the stability it deserves and has won through the sacrifices of the Greek people.” Regarding the local elections, the leadership of ND has chosen to disregard for the time being the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia as well as the large municipalities and to focus on the region where SYRIZA’s candidates suffered defeat

According to ND headquarters’ estimates, next Sunday there will be two maps: one with the regions where SYRIZA has been defeated and one for the European elections. The leadership of ND believes that nothing is definite yet, not even for the Attica region or the municipalities of Athens and Piraeus. ND recognizes that the results from opinion polls conducted in recent days have not been good for the ruling party. The effect the outcome of the first round will have is still unknown. Some say that it will give hope and mobilize the party base. There is also possibility it will increase the decisiveness of the electorate and strengthen the trends of voting against the government.