Mitsotakis’s cycle is closing
PARLIAMENTARIANS’ FIRE AGAINST MAXIMOS – STRUGGLE FOR THE NEXT DAY
In an unsuspected political time, a veteran politician of the “blue” faction with a long term in Parliament and in ministerial posts, in his conversation with journalists, had made an almost prophetic observation: “The main opponent of the government,” he had stressed, “will not be the opposition, but the… government, its bad self.”
After a series of scandals, successive incidents of squandering state and European funds, mismanagement, tragedies, violation and dissolution of institutions, the government of Kyr. Mitsotakis has reached the point that the veteran politician had predicted: To struggle in order not to lose… by itself. With the visible danger of remaining in History as the government that ran without an opponent and… finished second!
Without a doubt, shortly before entering the eighth year of its term, the government presents intense phenomena of dissolution and rot, shows to have entered a trajectory of political decline, from which it will very difficultly emerge in the short time until the next elections. And while Kyr. Mitsotakis maintains traces of optimism and tries with spasmodic, in several cases, moves to get out of the stalemate, without, however, substantial impact so far. And if until recently he had to face the disappointment and displeasure of the vast majority of citizens – over 70% ask for a change of government in the elections –, now, on the occasion of his handlings in the OPEKEPE scandal, he has turned against him even a portion of Nea Dimokratia officials. Inaccurate (worst) handlings, “lumping” MPs together without distinction and estimation of the degree of their involvement in the scandal.
Megaro Maximos tends to become a firing range. “As he made them, let him bathe in them” (let him face the consequences), as… N. Dendias would say, who continues to be glorified while hiding! The opposition parties denounce, protest, ask for elections here and now and presuppose the end of the government. The issue is that similar thoughts and analyses are also being made inside Nea Dimokratia. They see that the cycle of Kyr. Mitsotakis is closing and they seek an escape exit for their political survival.
When the latter will decide to set up ballot boxes – early or in the spring of 2027, as he has repeatedly stated – remains unknown, possibly not even he himself is in a position to know with certainty. What is certain is that until then he will give a hard battle in order to come out of the tunnel with the fewest possible losses. If until recently in Megaro Maximos there was the estimation that self-reliance was an achievable goal, with Nea Dimokratia exceeding 30% in the polls, now they will have to revise their views.
Possibly also their designs. The main goal should be a clear victory, something that will confirm the political dominance of Nea Dimokratia and will give the possibility to Mr. Mitsotakis to appear as the… vanquisher of the elections. At the same time, it will force his internal party rivals (see N. Dendias) to… be patient before attempting to overthrow him. Is such a thing feasible? In the present phase, no one would make such a daring prediction. When the political landscape clears, estimates will be able to be made on more solid ground. Until the day the ballot boxes are set up, many things are going to intervene: Developments related to the OPEKEPE scandal, the Tempi tragedy, founding of new parties etc., while there is always for the government the danger of the unexpected.
The worst If in the next elections Nea Dimokratia moves between 25% and 30%, Mr. Mitsotakis will have small or larger problems, depending on which number the needle stands close to. The most pessimistic consider that whatever the result below 30% is, Mr. Mitsotakis will come out politically wounded and will very difficultly remain in his position. Willingly or not, he will set in motion the procedures for his… departure and the election of a new president in Nea Dimokratia. 25% shows to be an extremely pivotal point, as, if the faction retreats below this limit, the developments in the political scene, but also specifically in Nea Dimokratia, will take the form of a tsunami. In such a case, having lost the seat bonus for the first party, Mr. Mitsotakis will not have the initiative of movements. This will pass to the opposition parties, which will attempt to form a coalition government.
At the same time, the procedures for the “dethronement” of Mr. Mitsotakis and his unseating will begin. All these he knows very well himself and it is certain that until the elections he will exert laborious and agonizing efforts in order to avoid the… fatal. And of course, he will set up ballot boxes whenever and if he considers that it is the appropriate timing for himself and Nea Dimokratia.
