The ruling centre-right New Democracy party (affiliated with the European People’s Party – EPP) lost the municipalities of Athens and Thessaloniki in the second round of Greece’s regional and municipal elections. Analysts now estimate that a new political landscape is emerging with the collaboration of progressive parties to be in the spotlight.
In the first round last week, candidates of New Democracy ranked first in both Athens and Thessaloniki. However, progressive parties joined forces in the second round, changing the picture.
Particularly, in Athens, New Democracy’s current mayor, Kostas Bakoyannis (nephew of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis), was defeated by Charis Doukas, a candidate from the socialist Pasok party who was publicly supported by the leftist Syriza candidate Kostas Zachariadis, who ranked third in the first round.
After announcing the results, Doukas “thanked” Zachariadis publicly for his support.
The situation was similar in Thessaloniki and other municipalities, as almost everywhere progressive parties joined forces, they managed to beat ruling New Democracy candidates.
On a regional level, New Democracy lost five out of six regions as their candidates were defeated by independent right-wing candidates who did not have the support of the ruling party or by other progressive candidates.
“It wasn’t a particularly good night”, Greek PM Mitsotakis said.
A blow against nepotism
Greek media reported that the results were a blow to the ruling New Democracy and the Greek PM himself, considering that between the first and second rounds, Mitsotakis got actively involved by openly supporting his party’s candidates in public appearances and statements.
The main opposition, the Syriza party (EU Left), commented that the results were a first step to ending the country’s nepotism.
“Here’s what the progressive world does when it comes together […] Tonight is the first major crack in the Mitsotakis regime”, a Syriza source told media.
The newly elected Syriza leader, Stefanos Kasselakis, who, after the first round, called on the party’s voters to back progressive candidates against conservatives, hailed the result, saying the next milestone will be the 2024 EU elections.
Is a progressive camp possible?
The collaboration between socialist Pasok and leftist Syriza has been in the spotlight for a long time but re-emerged on the surface again after the July national elections, in which New Democracy triumphed.
According to the current polls, Syriza remains the main opposition, followed by Pasok.
In Brussels, the official member of the EU socialist party is Pasok, while Syriza belongs to the EU left. However, EU socialists consider Syriza ideologically close to them and invited former leftist leader Alexis Tsipras to their meetings.
Many EU socialists in the past publicly expressed their hope for these two parties to join forces to take down conservatives. However, based on Greek political features, such a collaboration on a national level still has a long way to go.
Syriza has been more open to such an alliance, while Pasok is more reluctant.
“People need a strong progressive force that will send New Democracy into opposition”, Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis said on Sunday.
Androulakis hopes Pasok will eventually become the main opposition force and lead the “progressive camp” in Greece’s political spectrum.
Pasok also does not see in a positive light the flirt between Syriza and the EU socialists.
Analysts estimate that the results of the regional and local elections will mount pressure on Pasok to reconsider its stance.
(Sarantis Michalopoulos | Euractiv.com)
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