ATHENS – After even raising the idea of snap elections set off a maelstrom of speculation and jockeying for position, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ governments quickly backpedaled and said it’s not on the table – for now.

Mitsotakis’ comments, in which he said he didn’t want to put the country through political turmoil leading up to spring 2023 elections, indicated he was leaning toward calling elections sooner, possibly in September, said Kathimerini.

While the premier didn’t clarify what he would so, some officials in his ruling New Democracy did, jumping in to downplay talk he would try to stave off the major opposition SYRIZA with early elections.

A veteran Member of Parliament, Dora Bakoyanni, told SKAI TV that Mitsotakis has a lot on his plate to deal with before he can decide the best time for elections if he doesn’t serve out a four-year term.

“The first, which is a deterrent to holding elections in the fall, is the Greek-Turkish one,” she said. “Mitsotakis cannot leave Greece ungovernable for two months if there is tension with Turkey,” she added about the dilemma.

That was in reference to Turkish provocations including sending fighter jets into Greek airspace, demanding Greece take troops off Aegean islands, planning to hunt for energy off Greek islands and saying that it would be a cause for war if Greece doubles its maritime boundaries to 12 miles.

Minister of State George Gerapetritis told Parapolitika newspaper that, “There are reasons to go to the polls, but there are many more not to as there is a stable and solid government,” spinning the question both ways.