The political atmosphere in Greece increasingly resembles a never-ending election campaign. New parties are emerging, old leaders are making a comeback, political scenarios are circulating almost daily, and the system seems to be eagerly seekingthe next balance of powerthat could lead to power.
The founding of Maria Karistianou’s party, discussions about Alexis Tsipras’s return with a new political entity, scenarios regarding a possible move by Antonis Samaras, and even reports of a search for “figures of common acceptance” forfuture government collaborationswithin the center-left, all paint a picture of intense political fluidity.
And of course, they are causing concern within New Democracy. Not necessarily because a convincing alternative to power is already takingshape, but because a broad social current of discontent, fatigue, and distrust toward the government and, more broadly, toward today’s “parties in power.”
The Tempi scandal, wiretapping, inflation, the sense of impunity, the exhaustion of public services, the housing crisis suffocating younger generations, and the widespread belief that “nothing really changes”—given the absence of any reformist momentum—create an explosive foundationfor political delegitimization.
In this environment, anyone who presents themselves as “anti-establishment,” “authentic,” or simply “outside the familiar party machinery”automaticallygains political traction.
The crucial question, however, remains unanswered: what exactly istheproposedsolutionfor the country?
Because so far, most of the public debate has focused onindividuals, not policies.
Karystianos’s initiative clearly draws strength from the immense moral weight of the Tempi tragedy and from the sense that a large part of societyno longer trusts either the justice system or the state. This is a real and deep-seated political current. However, the indictment, however morally powerful it may be, does not in itself constitutea government program.
How will the demographic crisis be addressed? How will economic productivity be increased? How will we retain young scientists who continue to leave the country? How will the National Health System operate more effectively? How will Greece secure a stronger position in a Europe entering a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty?
Similar questions accompany a potential new venture by Tsipras. Because, regardless ofa communications relaunch, a large part of societyremembers thathe has already governed once. And they will reasonably ask: what exactly is changing now? The ideas? The faces? Or simply the political branding?
Even the discussion about “personality-driven solutions,” with names like Evangelos Venizelos returning to the forefront, perhaps reveals the deeper impasse of the political system. Instead of generating new political ideas, there is a constant search for figures who could serve astemporary bridges of stability.
It is as if the political system now believes that the country’s problem is primarilyone of management ratherthanstrategy.
But Greece is not merely facing a crisis of representation. It is facing a crisis of direction.
Because behind the political decay, behind the accumulated social anger, and behind the constant recycling of the same faces, the same fundamental problems remain unresolved: aproduction modelthat relies excessively on consumption and tourism, aslow and often ineffective state, a justice system that is increasingly viewed withsuspicion, and young people who struggle to imagine a future for themselves in their homeland.
And yet, much of the public discourse continues to revolve around post-election alliances, personalities, and political dynamics. Not even around the leadership of traditional and new parties. That is, the“groups”that will take on “power” and its “levers”…
As if the country were constantly searching for the next occupant of power, without having yet decided where it really wants to go.
And perhaps that is precisely where the deepest problem of our time lies: that in Greece in 2026, there are many suitors for power, but far fewer convincing solutions for the country._