The election of Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the helm of New Democracy does not just create new prospects for the main opposition party, it is also causing chain reactions in the political system. The government of Mr. Tsipras now has a worth opponent, as New Democracy – after a decline that came as a result of the lots electoral showdowns last year – is entering a path of organizational and political reconstruction, thanks to its new leadership.
It is worth noting that Mr. Mitsotakis was elected with a clear political program, with a clear European and reformist orientation. If this political proposal is confirmed in practice, then the government will be faced with an opponent who will make meaningful criticism and now allow it to present itself as the only vanguard of stability and path to overcome the crisis. At the same time the European leaders did not see an alternative to Mr. Tsipras for Greece, so they may begin revising their stance.
Even for the other opposition parties though, the election of Mr. Mitsotakis is creating pressure for reorganization and renewal. This pressure and need is evident from their first reactions. If the new leader of New Democracy sticks to his campaign commitments, the section of society that invests in the country’s European outlook and have no consistent political representation may be swayed over by Mitsotakis, with the consequences on the minor opposition parties starting to become visible.
All of this of course may take place provided that the new leadership abandons the easy populist promises and will invest in the radical renewal of the party, with specific reforms and proposals. Mr. Mitsotakis has the opportunity to prove that his electoral win, by persisting on not so popular opinions, will carry on consistently. He must not “give in” to political balancing or clientelism, but stick to his promises and support the general interests of the country and society, while ignoring the sirens of populism.
TO VIMA
