Because the pressure is on and is getting worse, and the only way to silence it – desperate measures – is to go to the polls, get himself elected to power again, and rub this public approbation into the faces of his critics.

“There, now you can’t say anything about me anymore. The people want me, and my corruption is irrelevant.”

In simple terms, he is going to the polls to get a public vote of approval for his and his henchmen’s corruption, which will give him – on his terms – a mandate to carry on doing it.

Can you please elaborate because I saw a similar comment from you on https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2017/04/election-announced-monday-depending-poll-results/?

Why does calling an early election mean that this entitles him “to keep himself and his key collaborators safe from investigation and prosecution”?

I think he is making a quick poll/investigation to check his chances before that. If he sees that he still has an advantage (unlikely now) he will call an election. If not, he will postpone , and postpone, until he gets the opportunity to flee.

And meanwhile I suspect that the country is going to be forced into a general election a year ahead of time so that this fixer will be around to fight it.