“Rebaptism” of government-church relations against the background of the European elections. Far right helping hand from Karatzaferi
In view of the holding of the European elections in a little more than a month, Maximos continues the effort to re-approach right-wing audiences, who have distanced themselves from the government mainly due to the bill for equality in civil marriage. An important role in the effort to bridge the gap from the traditional conservative base of the “blue” faction is played by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who a few days after the meeting with Hieronymos in Delesi, was again in the same place with the archbishop, as he was in the Metropolis on Maundy Thursday Athens. At the same time, Giorgos Karatzaferis once again lends a far-right helping hand to the ruling party.
The messages of Jerome
The prime minister’s two meetings with the archbishop took place at a time when Maximos’ main fear is the leakage of “blue” voters to more right-wing parties, which has taken on serious proportions, especially after the same-sex couple bill.
It is indicative that there was great pleasure in the prime minister’s staff after the statements of unity by the archbishop. Characteristically, Hieronymos had said the following on the day of the meeting with Mitsotakis: “We have firm lines, the word of God. We do not do what Velopoulos or any politician tells us. We respect people. In these times, cooperation is necessary, we are looking at how we can move forward.” It is recalled that the president of the Hellenic Solution had called on those who voted for the bill for equality in civil marriage to avoid going to church during Holy Week.
In fact, a few days after the archbishop’s statements, the prime minister, speaking about the new judicial map from the floor of the Parliament, said of the right-wing parties that “we don’t need merchants of patriotism and owners of faith”, adding that the best answer came from the church.
Fermentations of… passions
Jerome’s statements and the message of unity to the faithful were not made in a political vacuum, on the contrary, they gave the government the social space to approach conservative voters again during the dense Holy Week. It is no coincidence that Mitsotakis, in addition to the organizational charges he distributed to ministers, met groups of “blue” MPs from all regions of the country all the previous days.
The line given is to speak without fear to the right-wing voters and at the same time be careful in their positions. Having invested in the dipole of normality and “national security” versus “experimentation” and populism, as the prime minister has said many times, Maximou wants to avoid mistakes in the public sphere.
She supports him again
Apart from the “reconciliation” movements with the church, which Maximou believes will also be reflected in the electoral process, another “gift” came from the statements of the founder of the far-right LAOS G. Karatzaferis, who, as in last year’s national elections, he clearly supported Mr. Mitsotakis and his “children”, as he typically says (Voridis, Georgiadis, Plevris).
In particular, in an interview with “Proto Thema”, G. Karatzaferis stated that “Mitsotakis is the best that exists now. I can’t find another. That is, say that Mitsotakis falls in love and leaves, and goes, I know, to Malaga. Then what? Whom; Should we go to Kasselakis? It has too much brightness, which it doesn’t need. Shall we go to Androulakis? It’s like he’s come at the wrong time. Should we put Konstantopoulou? Stupidly screaming. I told you about Velopoulos. Natsios feels that he has the Holy Spirit on his head. There is nothing to see the next day, if Mitsotakis leaves for some reason – which I consider very likely.”
The open rejection of Kyriakos Velopoulos also made an impression, since as Karatzaferis said: “to become a leader, one must have the components of P.E.H.I.: education, intelligence, character, morals. Velopoulos has one of them, intelligence. He doesn’t have the others, so he doesn’t do the part for that.”
At the same time, regarding Makis Voridis, he said that “he is the best that this faction has. He is intelligent, he is methodical”, while about Adonis Georgiadis he noted that “he is an excellent soloist, without whom even the best conductor cannot reach the maximum he desires with his orchestra. Amazing solo. But I have the feeling that the best conductor will be Makis.”
Once again, at a critical political juncture for the government, the far-right New Democracy bloc is setting the tone for the pre-election campaign. It is no coincidence that Voridis, Georgiadis and Pleuris go out to the canals almost every day, wanting to pick up the losses to the right. After all, they are the same people who are running the Beleris candidacy. The opening towards the center that Mitsotakis evangelizes goes into the far-right waters of Karatzaferis and his children.
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