Mr. Tsipras had the opportunity after the September elections to move quickly and implement what was agreed with our partners, to regain the credibility that was lost in the first six months of the year and finish the bailout program review in time, so that Greece may return to normality and growth.
However, he was once again overcome by the syndrome of the political cost and unproductive communication. The efforts of the second left government were are characterized by delays, back turning and inconsistencies. Those in power once again incorrectly believed that they dominate the country’s politics, that they are the only hope and worst of all, that they have the time to fight new political battles with their partners and ultimately win.
The months went by and the plan did not work out, either in Greece or beyond.
On the domestic front, Mr. Tsipras is faced with a war of attrition against the social groups that supported him in the previous months. The mass demonstration of doctors and lawyers on Thursday in the city center of Athens, along with the road blocks that the farmers announced, indicate the distance between the government and its supporters.
Unfortunately for Mr. Tsipras these doubts coincided with the desperate win of Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the New Democracy elections, which appears to have an impressive effect on politics in Greece. The centrist appeal of Kyriakos Mitsotakis is such that it is causing concern within PASOK, the River, the Union of Centrists and even the until-recently undisputed hegemony of Mr. Tsipras.
Truth be told, despite the Prime Minister’s claim that the election of Mr. Mitsotakis suits him because apparently it makes the divide between the Right and the Left more clear, he will be under pressure from the new leader of the main opposition party.
On the front abroad the conditions have become even worse. Long gone are the niceties and pleasantries from the Europeans and the Kyriakos alternative will only makes things more difficult. Those closely following European affairs will be sure that the Tsipras government will be under major pressure to fully implement the agreement that was reached in the summer. Already Klaus Regling has hinted towards a restriction on liquidity and Jeroen Dijsselbloem was quick to note that the review could take months.
All this means is that Mr. Tsipras is being pressured from all sides. It is no coincidence that he called for support from the Secretary General of the Communist Party Dimitris Koutsoumpas, to support the new, more proportionate electoral law. Obviously he will ask the same from the other opposition leaders in hopes of getting the necessary 200 votes in Parliament that will allow for the law to be applied immediately in the next elections.
Unfortunately he has his mind on the elections. The country is in danger of political floundering, of missing the train to exit the crisis once again. It would be unfortunate for this country to relive tragic days like those in 2015.
Antonis Karakousis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
