While Greece’s main opposition party, SYRIZA, is still going through a tumultuous period marked by interparty squabbles between various factions, which culminated in the deposing of its leader Stefanos Kasselakis, ruling New Democracy appears unable to capitalize on its political opposition’s problems, as the conservative party has consistently failed to take advantage of the disarray across the political aisle, as evidenced by multiple recent polls.
New Democracy is polling between 25 and 27% in voter intention, according to the most recent polls, a substantial drop from its 2023 general election result of 40.5%.
Political pundits say an edgy feeling within the ruling party is palpable, as signs of tensions are becoming more evident. The question many are pondering is whether this uneasiness could surface at a meeting between current PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and former PMs Antonis Samaras and Kostas Karamanlis scheduled at an event on Thursday.
The three men will share a table at a conference organized by the Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute for Thursday titled “1974-2024: 50 Years Since the Transition to Democracy—Democracy in Our Times.”
Against this backdrop, the meeting between the three men takes on significant meaning, as both of Mitsotakis’s predecessors have been directly or indirectly critical of him on certain issues.
Following a period of tension—largely stemming from their critiques of Mitsotakis’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Turkey—this encounter will offer a rare chance for analysts to observe the interaction between the three leaders, with photographers likely seeking to capture the overall mood.
Although Kostas Karamanlis has largely abstained from openly criticizing the current PM, the strain was particularly evident between Mitsotakis and Samaras, who recently criticized the government’s approach to Turkey. Mitsotakis responded sharply from the parliamentary podium, referencing Samaras’s past association with convicted former minister Nikos Pappas (a high-ranking SYRIZA Minister.)
Sources close to Samaras countered that Mitsotakis’s rebukes are a reaction to Turkey’s increasingly aggressive stance, urging the government to focus on securing Greece’s borders rather than pursuing short-lived “friendship pacts.”
Rumors have also surfaced that Samaras may vote against the upcoming budget, though his associates dismiss such speculation as “vile provocations.” Another potential meeting between Mitsotakis and Samaras could take place on Friday at the inauguration of the “House of Elytis” in Plaka, Athens.
Addressing questions on whether Thursday’s event could result in any sort of argumentative confrontation, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis responded decisively: “Not at all.” Marinakis downplayed suggestions of internal party issues, stating that New Democracy has one of the most united parliamentary groups and that Mitsotakis remains focused on delivering swift and effective solutions to citizens’ problems.
With all the recent polls showing the Greek electorate increasingly fatigued, a feeling stemming primarily from the economic conditions and the high cost of living, the ruling party would like to squash any rumors of an internal divide, especially on matters of foreign policy and relations with Turkey, a traditionally sensitive issue for Greeks.
Mitsokakis cannot afford to allow an existing interparty policy disagreement—albeit on the serious issue of relations with Turkey—to fester within his party, especially in light of ever-more aggressive rhetoric by the smaller populist parties to his right who are constantly raising the matter of national sovereignty and concessions to Turkey.
