Greek Pasok and Syriza should put an end to their “hegemony” approach and, together with other progressive forces, agree on an alternative governance plan, stated New Left leader Alexis Charitsis, according to Euractiv.
“Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s government must go. Enough. But of course, this cannot be done simply by adding up the percentages of the opposition parties.”
The political debate ahead of June’s EU elections is heating up in Greece as the latest opinion polls show the ruling New Democracy party losing ground but still leading in the vote.
The latest polls show New Democracy gaining 31.3% (from 36.2%). It is followed by Syriza (15.9% from 11.4%), with socialist Pasok in third place with 13.4% (from 12.5%).
The New Left, which were recently formed after separating from Syriza, gain 3.8%. However, analysts suggest that they will play the role of kingmaker if a progressive coalition government is formed.
He stated the need for “a solid programmatic base from the opposition and an alternative left, progressive governance plan to the Mitsotakis plan.”
This is what we do, and we invite the other forces to this logic, to this effort. However, this cannot be done as long as Syriza and Pasok leaderships operate with a logic of hegemony, integrating into the dominant strategic policies that the Mitsotakis government is currently making.
Last month, New Democracy survived a vote of no confidence, the first time the four opposition parties jointly put forward a vote of no confidence. Although the vote of no confidence was not passed, some analysts in Athens saw it as a test of their co-operation.
Speaking about the upcoming EU elections, Charitsis stated that the results would send a clear message to all parties, but above all remind Mitsotakis that he does not have a “blank cheque” to run the country.
“These EU elections must be the beginning of the end of the Mitsotakis government.”
Analysts in Athens suggest that if New Democracy’s share falls below 30 per cent, it will be a problem for Mitsotakis.
However, should the numbers add up, the big question is who would lead such a progressive coalition, given the fragile relationship between the parties that could form it.
Asked whether former Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras could lead a progressive front, as some politicians have publicly speculated, Charitsis responded:
At the moment the dominant question is not who, but in what way we will bring down Mitsotakis […] The crucial thing is what this program will be, what positions we will put forward, how we will convince the citizens that there is an alternative path.
The government’s handling of the railway disaster that killed 57 people last year remains a key issue in Greece. Meanwhile, the opposition accuses conservatives of trying to cover it up and protect former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis.
The intervention in the case by EU chief prosecutor Laura Kövesi, who said authorities were obstructing the investigation, has also caused consternation in Athens. Prime Minister Mitsotakis accused her of exceeding the limits of her competence. Moreover, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis stated earlier that the Greek government should find a way to question her position.
Charitsis argued that the Greek Prime Minister should realise that a democracy has functioning institutions and referred to a recent EU Parliament resolution expressing concern about the status quo of the Greek rule of law.
“Mitsotakis and his ministers have become so addicted to the violation of the rule of law that they are not limited to our national borders […] they now make anti-democratic and anti-institutional interventions as in the recent attacks against the European Prosecutor.”
