Former prime minister Antonis Samaras was essentially expelled from the ruling New Democracy (ND) party on Saturday, hours after a portion of his interview with the Sunday edition of “To Vima” was released, and where he demanded the firing of Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis over what he called “appeasement” in the face of Turkish provocations.
The expulsion, which remains to be made official through a relevant decision by a party organ, was announced by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, who cited the statements in the “To Vima” interview, which will be published in its entirety on Sunday, Nov. 17. The spokesman characteristically noted that Samaras had “himself chosen to exit” the party.
In a statement, Pavlos Marinakis said:
“As we’ve said many times before, former prime ministers retain a special privilege to express their views and concerns on policy matters from time to time. However, Mr. Samaras, during his last interview didn’t express any views. He did express his total disagreement with current government policy, in its entirety.
“Moreover, with an inappropriate and provocative manner, he has adopted extreme lies, distorting statements by the foreign minister, which have been repeatedly and thoroughly clarified. He even went so far as to claim that the Greek Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Cyprus were ‘cuddling up’ to the President of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Albania.
“Finally, the untimely debate that he’s insisted on regarding the (next year’s) election (by Parliament) of the President of the Republic is an insult to the person and the institution of the head of state. All of the aforementioned can neither be tolerated nor accepted. Society has left behind, several years now in fact, practices of political ‘stewardship’ and attitudes characterized by partisan ‘grudges’…those who envision a smaller New Democracy, one back to the level of 18% (of the popular vote), should consider that with Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ policy New Democracy has won three general elections to date, and with percentages ranging at around 40%.”
The spokesman’s caustic reference to “18%” was the showing that center-right New Democracy (ND) under the leadership of Samaras posted in the snap general election of May 6, 2012, and specifically 18,85% of the general vote and 108 seats in Parliament. That showing was the worst the party has posted in a general election since it was founded in October 1974.
“Therefore, Mr. Samaras, with his interview today, has placed himself, for the second time since 1993, out of New Democracy. After all, this is what he sought. This time, however, history will not repeat itself. The ruling majority is steadily continuing on its course without Mr. Samaras. No one has the right to play games with the country’s stability amid these troubled times.”
The development marks the second time Samaras will have found himself out of ND. He was sacked as the foreign minister in far-off April 1992 by then Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis, Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ father, after heated disagreement over the Greek government’s policy on the emotionally charged “Macedonia name issue” at the time. Samaras resigned from his Parliament seat in October 1992.
In June 1993 Samaras left ND and formed his own party, Political Dawn (Pol.An), before returning to ND in 2004. He was included in the party’s ballot – second in line – for the European Parliament elections that year and served as a MEP until 2007.
Samaras succeeded Costas Karamanlis – the namesake and nephew of statesman and ND founder Constantine Karamanlis – in November 2009 after the party lost a general election the previous month. He served as prime minister between 2012 and until 2015.
