Underground vote routes, or open wounds that bleed towards newfangled parties? The conclusions of the latter polls they are now converging, registering significant leakages of votes from the three major parties to new parties. DISY, AKEL and DIKO, lose votes to ALMA, Direct Democracya mainly and less towards VOLT. Or according to another reading, the parties of Odysseus Michaelides and Phidias Panagiotou draw significant percentages of votes from the three major parties. To an inexplicable degree, one would say, under normal circumstances, about DISY and AKEL. DIKO’s leaks to Odysseas Michaelidis are to some extent explained by his Dikoic past.
The presence of the new parties is also the new factor in the equation compared to previous electoral contests. For example, the percentages recorded by these parties in the polls today, one could claim that they are not very different from the corresponding period of 2021. But then there were no new party formations, which could absorb the dissatisfaction of voters, or act as an alternative option. Let us also not overlook the fact that, with the result of the European elections acting as a precedent, has been exonerated or normalized to a degree either “punitive” or “retributive” behavior at the ballot box.
An element that also obviously has weight in terms of the psychology of part of the electorate. This is basically the great concern of the traditional parties, because as can be seen from the opinion polls, they have reached a “ceiling” in rallying and do not show that they can make a big counterattack in the final stretch of the pre-election campaign. The key, of course, will be the undecideds, as a significant percentage of the electorate still declares itself undecided. Their decision, possibly turn the dial in one direction or another and change the data. The percentage of participation in the polls will also be an important factor. If the turnout moves to higher numbers than previous electoral contests, it is an element that can also bring reversals.
Alarmists to Odysseus
The leakage rate of alarmed voters towards the ALMA of Odysseus Michaelidis is a headache for the DISY leadership. The losses to ELAM were more or less expected and can be explained and dealt with to an extent. But the votes for the party of Odysseus Michaelides they cannot have an explanation for the percentage in fact that are presented. A party with which DISY had no ideological affinity and its leadership is in a constant war against the party. Somewhere here is where the various scenarios and behind-the-scenes discussions on the occasion begin whispering about underground voter routes to ALMA. Why might this be done, if possible? The entire scenario in and around Pindarus is connected to the next day in the party, to the internal party changes and reaches the presidential elections and how the scene can develop both in the first and second rounds. Of course, there is also the opinion, how it is a protest vote of alarmed voters and an expression of discomfort with the policies of the party and its current leadership. This category however may be more about leaks to ELAM and Direct Democracy rather than Odysseus Michaelides’ ALMA.
AKEL and Phidias Panagiotou
The leakage of AKEL voters to the Direct Democracy of Phidias Panagiotou is the second element recorded as a trend in many opinion polls. The reasons are not clear, but it seems that this particular party and its leader find more appeal in more popular layers of society, which is an audience that used to be the Left’s voter pool, despite the fact that he himself has right-wing origins.
Statements and actions of the head of the Direct Democracy, such as the visit to Russia, his friendly attitude Phidias Panagiotou towards Russia and Putin, but also opinions expressed by people close to him, such as the professor Louka Nikos, known as “Sausage” who are among his guides, address a leftist audience. A friendly and supportive attitude towards him is also maintained by various groups and accounts in Social Media of left and far-left ideology. The paradox, of course, is that its candidates are of different tendencies and opinions, from the extreme right to the extreme left.
In the previous days, an executive of the Direct Democracy was seen with an AKEL executive, sparking discussions about behind-the-scenes consultations that have to do with the Presidency of the Parliament. A move that, for many, is being done in order to pre-empt what is also being discussed in the background, for support from the Direct Democracy for the candidacy of Irini Charalambidou, so that the AKEL team can be “dragged” in the final round to support her.
