Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is facing an unprecedented challenge to his leadership, as two of his predecessors, former center-right Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and former leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, are reportedly considering forming new parties to contest his authority.
The simmering political tensions boiled over this past weekend when Antonis Samaras (New Democracy, Center-Right) launched a blistering public attack on the current Prime Minister, accusing him of fundamentally altering the character of the ruling party.
Samaras: ND is Mitsotakis’ “personal party”
Speaking to Antenna TV, Samaras did not mince words, accusing Mitsotakis of a deliberate ideological shift that has alienated the party’s conservative base. “He seized the opportunity to turn New Democracy into his own personal party,” Samaras stated, adding that the party now bears “only the name” of New Democracy.
The former Prime Minister emphasized that his differences with Mitsotakis are “political and value-based” rather than personal, and he specifically criticized the government’s policies on foreign affairs and gender issues as being inconsistent with the core center-right platform.
Samaras intensified his critique by claiming Mitsotakis harbors an aversion to the party’s traditional foundations: “The problem is that Mitsotakis can’t stand the right, the center-right, or the history and grassroots base of New Democracy,” he said.
In a highly charged metaphor, Samaras claimed the Prime Minister has transformed the ruling party into “a hybrid of Simitis-era PASOK,” referencing the historically rival centre-left party.
Expulsion and future plans
The dispute comes on the heels of Samaras’ expulsion from the New Democracy party in November 2024. Samaras claimed the expulsion was long-sought by Mitsotakis, noting the historical significance: “It’s the first time in the party’s history that a former prime minister and party president has been expelled.”
Sources close to Samaras suggest he is mulling the establishment of a new political force to the right of New Democracy, aimed at recapturing disillusioned conservative voters and challenging Mitsotakis’ dominance in that ideological space.
Tsipras threat to Mitsotakis looms from the Left
Adding to the Prime Minister’s woes, reports indicate that Alexis Tsipras (SYRIZA, Left), another former Prime Minister, is also considering a similar move.
The forthcoming release of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ political memoir, titled Ithaca, is being closely monitored, as it coincides with a pivotal shift in his career: his resignation from Parliament and reported plans to establish a new political movement.
Set for publication in the second half of November by Gutenberg, the book, whose title references the journey and return theme of Homer and Cavafy, purports to offer an insider’s perspective on one of Europe’s most turbulent political periods.
If both former leaders proceed with their plans, Mitsotakis could face a highly fragmented political landscape, where challenges from both the far-right (Samaras) and the radical-left (Tsipras) could severely diminish New Democracy’s vote share and potentially complicate future election outcomes.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
