Greek Interior Minister Thodoris Livanios said the country's electoral machinery remains in constant operational readiness to hold elections "whenever institutionally required," even as he reaffirmed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's stated position that national elections will take place in spring 2027.
In an interview with iefimerida.gr, Mr. Livanios said his ministry continuously updates voter rolls, information systems and preparation mechanisms regardless of political timing.
"The prime minister has stated with absolute clarity that national elections will take place in spring 2027. There is no plan for anything different," he said, adding that operational readiness "is a sign of a serious state, not an indication of early election planning."
Mr. Livanios discussed Greece's new local election system, which eliminates runoff voting for mayors and regional governors in favor of a single-round system allowing voters to name a second preference. Under the new rules, if a voter's first choice fails to advance — meaning no candidate secures at least 42% and their choice isn't among the top two — their second preference is counted instead.
He said the change addresses steep drop-offs in turnout previously seen in runoff elections, sometimes falling 20 to 30 percentage points compared to the first round.
On public sector performance evaluations, Mr. Livanios said the system has shifted from a largely formal process to one with measurable targets and greater accountability, crediting it with improved digital services and faster processing times. He said €40 million in performance bonuses were paid to civil servants who met targets under the 2025 evaluation cycle.
On constitutional reform, Mr. Livanios said modernizing Greece's charter is essential to address challenges including artificial intelligence, public health and climate change, but stressed that meaningful revision requires broad political consensus rather than partisan conflict.
Asked about the government's broader reform record, Mr. Livanios cited tax cuts, digitization efforts, hospital renovations, and Greece's emergence as a regional energy hub, alongside Interior Ministry initiatives including postal voting and a new Local Government Code.
By Vassilis Poulos