With relatively low-key rhetoric toward the new parties and insisting on the dilemma of “stability or uncertainty” in the run-up to the elections, the government is attempting to navigate this new phase of political realignment.Following the formalization of the political initiatives of Alexis Tsipras and Maria Karistianou, and as the first polls begin to reflect the new balance of power, the Maximos Mansion has chosen to shift the focus of the political debate from personalities and shifts in the polls to government effectiveness and the plan for the country’s future.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has decided to proceed with a central narrative of consistency between words and deeds, emphasizing the phrase “We said it, we did it, and we will do even more.” This strategy will be reflected both in the Prime Minister’s upcoming public statements and in the tours he will continue throughout the country, with the aim of highlighting that the government has a concrete plan for Greece in 2030.
Government officials believe that the image of fragmentation and introversion within the opposition, particularly among the center-left, reinforces the argument for political stability put forward by New Democracy. As they note, “in turbulent times, citizens seek two things: stability and a vision, ”arguing that in contrast to a government that —despite its mistakes and problems—presents a concrete plan, there is an opposition that is consumed by internal rivalries, with the sole common denominator being the removal of Kyriakos Mitsotakis from the premiership.
A sarcastic mood
Regarding Alexis Tsipras’s return to the political spotlight, the prime minister initially adopted a sarcastic tone, but was quick to add that he “respects all his opponents and does not underestimate anyone.”
He also noted that the former prime minister has already been judged both as prime minister and as leader of the official opposition in the 2023 elections, pointing out that it remains to be seen whether the new party will be “SYRIZA with a new tax ID or something truly different." Government officials characterize the new party’s first appearance as a “dive into the past” rather than a substantive discussion about the country’s future, accusing Alexis Tsipras of attempting a political “rebranding” without any substantive change in policy.
“He’s changed the packaging, but not the rhetoric,”they point out, arguing that the new political discourse continues to rely on divisive slogans and the logic of the past. “The people want the country to move forward and address the real problems of everyday life. Mr. Tsipras is moving in reverse,” said government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis.
At the same time, officials at the Maximos Mansion are avoiding getting involved in the public debate over the first polls showing Tsipras’s new party vying for as high as second place. They make it clear that the government is not interested in the “competition” for second place among the opposition parties.
“What matters to us is moving the country forward with our program, fulfilling our commitments, and responsibly addressing society’s major problems,” they note emphatically, placing particular emphasis on maintaining fiscal stability so that “the country does not find itself back in the scenarios of the past.” They also make it abundantly clear that a majority government is the only way forward for the New Democracy party. A scenario, however, that seems very distant given the current circumstances.