Greece enters 2026 facing a pivotal twelve months that will effectively serve as the country’s long pre-election campaign, with social discontent and internal party friction threatening to reshape the political map before the next national vote. For Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, this is the final full year to govern before the election cycle formally opens. The administration faces a convergence of structural crises: persistent inflation, a housing shortage that has alienated the middle class, and a credibility crisis in the agricultural sector following the OPEKEPE subsidies scandal. Internal pressure within the ruling New Democracy party is also mounting. Former Prime Ministers Costas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras are expected to maintain distinct, often critical lines, particularly regarding foreign policy. Relations with Turkey remain a flashpoint. While Mr. Mitsotakis defends his "calm waters" strategy, the conservative base remains wary of concessions. Uncertainty still clouds the timing of the next Supreme Cooperation Council meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, fueling criticism from the party's right flank. The opposition landscape is equally fluid. The center-left Pasok party enters a decisive phase with a congress scheduled for early 2026 to define its strategy. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras may launch a new political initiative to unify the fragmented progressive space between the left and center. Adding to the volatility is Mrs. Maria Karystianou, a central figure in the movement for justice for the Tempe train crash victims. Her potential entry into politics could galvanize anti-establishment sentiment. Analysts view the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair in September as the unofficial launch of the election race, where Mr. Mitsotakis must defend his record against a landscape of shifting alliances and hardening social grievances. By Antonis Telopoulos Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr