The results of the European elections may not cause a major political crisis, but they most definitely change the political situation in the country.
SYRIZA’s win is clear and undisputed. Just like New Democracy’s attrition is obvious and undisputed.
There is not doubt that Mr. Tsipras’ claims will become more intense and Mr. Samaras’ efforts will become harder.
The SYRIZA president will want to turn the win in the elections into a political hegemony. That is why he rushed to visit the President the day after the European elections.
From here on Mr. Tsipras will become dynamic in his public affair interventions and will build alliances as he realizes that the era of one-party government is long gone and after the last election campaign he senses that his party is isolated. The truth is that his party was attacked from the right and the left alike.
He is, however, counting on the social alliances he formed in the local government elections and the influence he gained on the country’s major municipalities and the conquest of the district of Attica.
He also counts on a circle of PASOK officers considering moving more to the left. He wanted DIMAR to be stronger, but he was unable to predict the damage that Mr. Papandreou would have on Mr. Kouvelis’ party.
Additionally he still believes that KKE voters are following SYRIZA’s progress with interest, despite the Communist Party’s leadership being aggressive against him.
The common belief is that Mr. Tsipras’ victory in the European elections has set a course for assuming power.
In order to halt this path to power, the center right and center left will have to move quickly and determined.
The question now is whether the once-dominant factions can recover.
The Prime Minister now has two open fronts; the coalition government and his party and he must face many of these government and partisan challenges simultaneously.
As he implements his financial policy, he must also reform his party and attempt the so-called expansion, in order to create the conditions for a recovery in the polls.
It will not be easy for Mr. Samaras to achieve the multifaceted expansion nor the refounding of his faction.
To the right of New Democracy there are many willing to reconcile with the idea of a return and just as many sworn enemies of Mr. Samaras. Regarding the center, the perspective of a center left recovery limits his options.
Despite being saved and being treated with greater respect by friends and enemies alike, Mr. Venizelos is aware that a significant part of his party and voters are heading towards SYRIZA.
He will have to act quickly, inspired and decisively if he wants to recover and win back the center left. The truth is that he gained an advantage over the ruined DIMAR and the newly-formed River.
Mr. Theodorakis did not achieve his ambitious goals, is rather disappointed and questioning whether he should defend his movement or change. Those in the know argue that unless he politicizes his party soon enough, he runs the risk of seeing it disintegrate and literally fade away.
That is how the political scene has more or less changed after the European elections. There is going to be a lot of activity, such as transfers and mergers. As we have said before, politics will be restructured just like the economy. A lot is going to happen before the elections for a new President.
Antonis Karakousis
