The opening of the autumn session in the Greek Parliament revealed a change of scene, though the new set is made up of old materials.
The majority of New Democracy is at odds with a minority representing an older version of the party, though it hasn’t suffered much in the way of turbulence as a result.
Still, vague aspirations or inscrutable ambitions of a past vintage are hardly going to put the internal workings of the governing faction to the test.
PASOK is starting to look like a second party, without coming across as a functioning Opposition yet.
Still, Androulakis’ re-election has ensured its stability and saved it some time. It’s up to him to put both to good use now.
SYRIZA is increasingly resembling a “former party”, and hasn’t so much as shed a tear for its past glories.
The remaining parties are just props, there to add to the sense of fragmentation without any broader or more complex objectives.
In this new context, Mitsotakis has clearly chosen Androulakis as his primary opponent, and Androulakis has no reason to question the Prime Minister’s preference. Both men have made the logical choice.
Does this mark the completion of the “normalization” process that began in 2019 for Greek politics? To some extent, yes.
And that’s not down to New Democracy and PASOK alone. It’s also because the political formations that were born, grew up, and sometimes dominated during the Crisis era are now disappearing one by one.
SYRIZA is just the latest victim. It was preceded by the Independent Greeks, Golden Dawn, The River, the Democratic Left, MeRA25, the Union of Centrists, Popular Unity and others, “for they are legion”.
Of course, the return to normality cannot be achieved without some cast changes and adjustments.
New Democracy has long since replaced PASOK as the “natural party of government”. But there’s nothing to prevent PASOK seeking a new role more significant than the one it has been playing over the last decade.
Whether it gets to play it will depend on how convincingly it can call government policy into question and how effectively it can participate in wider-reaching institutional adjustments and cross-party initiatives. From the electoral law to the Constitution.
Of course, working with others isn’t how Greek parties usually go about the business of Opposition. We prefer brawling with the government to working with it.
But completing the return to normality is going to take more than parties with the same mindset alternating in the same roles.
We have had our fill of SYRIZA and aimless militancies.
