The Government’s political campaign begins in a climate of optimism, after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announcement that the elections will take place on January 25.

Until yesterday the prevailing view was to set February 1 as the election date, in order to allow the two coalition government partners, New Democracy and PASOK, sufficient time to take the lead from main opposition SYRIZA, which is ahead in all polls. However, the final decision was taken yesterday evening at a meeting Mr. Antonis Samaras had with his team at Maximos Mansion.

The new date was selected due to pressure exerted by PASOK leader and Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who wants the pre-election period to be as short as possible, so that former Prime Minister George Papandreou won’t have the time to organize his own party and cause an internal division in PASOK.

PM Samaras’ adviser Chrysanthos Lazaridis told the press yesterday, after the completion of the third round of presidential elections, that the government is optimistic over the outcome of the upcoming national elections.

This optimism is based on the results of recent polls that show the gap between the major coalition government partner and the main opposition shrinking and reveal that the Greek people believe that Antonis Samaras is more suitable for the position of Prime Minister.