Leading members of the main opposition party strongly believe that people will express their disapproval of the government and its politics in the European election next Sunday despite the current results of the regional and local elections. “We may not have a clear advanced performance, but the trends in society remain” SYRIZA estimates and continue on keeping a low profile saying that their first goal is “to win even with one vote difference”.

What happened on Sunday, though, was proved a Scottish shower for SYRIZA: From modest estimates of polls during the previous days, to the feeling that a great victory comes according to the exit polls, particularly in Athens and Attica, and at the end to the frustration for a missed opportunity to verify the routing to overthrow the governmental schemes.

The first attack unleashed by SYRIZA against the government did not bring the best results: Mrs Dourou’s first place in Attica region won the impressions, but the difference was not as great as exit polls recorded at first. Even Gabriel Sakellaridis passing to the second round for Athens Municipality was accompanied by the denial of the first place, which was certain at first. The most frustrating part was that SYRIZA failed to get its candidates in second round in most regions of the country, receiving even lower percentage than SYRIZA had received in the national elections of 2012.

SYRIZA barely dodged a huge communication and political mistake, which is common in such cases: Alexis Tripras’s staff showing a mature and responsible character advised to keep a low profile and avoid any premature celebrations or enthusiastic statements when exit polls showed – wrongly as it turned out – a great victory of Rena Dourou and that Mr. Sakellaridis would get the first place.

For days SYRIZA had abandoned the slogan “three polls one vote” avoiding to use the regional elections to send a broader political message. Mr Tsipras spoke of a “new self-governing map” in which SYRIZA is a more powerful party.

Also, SYRIZA insists that New Democracy has been defeated since it does not have any candidates for the second round in Athens and Attica.