The three-day debate on the no-confidence motion against the government, which was expectedly rejected on Thursday night, can be seen as the start of a new political period and, at the same time, the milestone for the total return to toxicity.
In essence, all political forces were rearranged and forced to readjust at the tactical level, with the pending issue as to whether these will also manifest themselves in the field of strategy.
The government found itself on the defensive and forced to fend off the – for the first time – more or less coordinated attacks by the opposition.
This line of defense was evident and served by all the government MPs and himself Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Central to this was the recognition and admission of mistakes in the handling of the Tempe disaster, which for a long period was dominated by the underestimation of its slow-burning impact, culminating in multiple unfortunate choices during the Commission of Inquiry meetings. At the same time, however, the representatives of the majority resorted to the usual attacks known from the past against “entanglement” and “interests”.
During the debate in Parliament the government was called upon to respond to a number of issues, from persistent accusations of a cover-up to the recent publication of “Sunday step» regarding the tampering of the OSE’s internal conversations on the night of the accident, with the aim of highlighting human error.
Pyrrhic victory and challenges
Regardless of the expected outcome of the vote, the government appears with political wounds after the debate, which also comes in the wake of recent opinion polls. They are dominated by the feeling that no progress has been made in the investigation of the accident. This is an element with which the Prime Minister will continue to be faced, as long as (and in spite of) the investigation of the case by the judiciary. It should also be noted that a new cycle may be opened from this process, in the event that in any way evidence emerges that would lead to a return of the file to the Parliament, if the name of the former minister is involved Costas Karamanlis.
With Thursday’s Pyrrhic parliamentary victory, with political wounds visible and in a new political environment with multiple fronts open, the biggest challenge for Kyriakos Mitsotakis is now to confirm at the June ballot the match between ND’s parliamentary cohesion and real rallying of its party and electoral base. This is one of the weak points of the government, as in the opinion polls the rally rates appear reduced, to the lowest points in recent years.
The problem with Maximos
At the same time, the resignations of the two close and competent associates of the Prime Minister Yannis Bratakou and Stavros Papastavrou they highlight a reality and a weakness. The image and feeling is being formed that there is a lasting and serious issue with the close associates of Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Megaros Maximos. Therefore, the centralized model of the first period of government, which was considered a strong card of the government, shows significant cracks, which remains to be seen if and how they will be dealt with in the long remaining period of the government’s term.
In the wake of the latest resignations, it will also be decided whether the Prime Minister will choose some sensational move, e.g. with a reshuffle beyond the replacement of his two close associates, which is however considered less likely to happen before the European elections.
The bet of PaSoK and SYRIZA
As far as the opposition is concerned, the motion of no confidence has formed new impressions, which, however, are not clear and certain that they constitute a de facto new political condition.
PaSoK may appear satisfied with the fact that it forced the government to be on the defensive and apologize for its actions. However, it is also recognized by parliamentary officials that the great challenge and his bet Nikos Androulakis is to devise a credible strategy, serve it and convince that he and his party are an official opposition in waiting. This will be seen on the way to the European elections and will only be certified by their result.
SYRIZA, on the other hand, is facing a new mutation of its political problem. In an unusual way he appeared parliamentaryly consistent, mainly through the chairman of his parliamentary group Socrates Famelloubut at the same time he had to face the parallel and politically asymmetrical presence of his president Stefanou Kasselakis through the known channels of social networks. As senior opposition officials also recognize, this incompatibility in the field of forming a reliable political presence will continue to haunt the party and will largely determine its electoral performance in the June polls and the developments after them.
The… drum of Velopoulos
For the opposition however, but also for the political atmosphere in the country in general, the biggest issue of the coming months is a now visible slide in the field of populism and toxicity, which refers to previous periods.
As can be felt, on a parliamentary and wider level, the pace is set by extremes and conspiracy theories, which are served faithfully and without deviation by the Hellenic Solution and Kyriakos Velopoulos, offering him obvious polling and possible electoral benefits.
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