“So I weigh the whole situation very carefully. I watch everything. What is happening inside and outside the country. I will judge calmly. And when I make my decisions, whatever they are, either way, I will explain them clearly and thoroughly to the only constant ally of my course, for almost 50 years: the Greek people.” With that sentence he closed the…benhouric interview lasting 1 hour and 50 minutes the former prime minister Antonis Samaras he left everything open to the prospect of creating a new party.
By the time he reached this final report, he had launched a scathing indictment of the whole matter against Megarus Maximus and Kyriakou Mitsotakis on staff, about whom he spoke in very heavy words. Especially with the references to “regime”, but also to de-ideologicalization of the ND and its transformation into a Semitic hybrid.
From the economy and her foreign policyto the manipulations for the OKAY and the TempeMr. Samaras opened fire directly against Mr. Mitsotakis, showing in practice that he had and is not in any mood for “sasmos”. He claimed that he has no ginati, but that he was deleted, he did not leave. And he emphasized that the government is insincere when it makes an “opening” towards him, as this is not accompanied by recognition of political mistakes, especially in national matters.
The decisions
As stated in protothema.gr a man who converses with Mr. Samaras on a daily basis, the former prime minister positioned himself after all not as a “former”, but with an eye on the future. In general, he deconstructed Mr. Mitsotakis’ manipulations with the argument – below the lines – that with him at the helm, things would be different.
Mr. Samaras, after all, has the argument that the positions he expressed and for which he says he was slandered, are now patriotic. Of course, the fact that interview had been taped since October 31 may have rendered some of his remarks out of date, esp regarding Greece’s relations with the USA, in light of the PTEC conference held in Zappeion.
The question, however, is whether and when the former prime minister will push the button for a new party. He “ferments” in the background, talks with its executives New Republic and not only that, but he still does not take the decisive step. However, he maintains the public debate, as while he does so his interventions are heard much more.
Mr. Samaras, of course, is politically experienced and understands that the creation of a new party is not an easy exercise, nor is the success of an undertaking guaranteed. And the assessments of people who are in contact with him or have known him for a long time are divided.
Many believe that he has made his decisions in his mind and will simply choose the right timing to announce them, others believe that he is using his rhetoric as a lever to pressure and wear down governmenthoping for other moves, possibly also within the ND. It is also a given that Mr. Samaras wants to “read” the entire chessboard.
Maximus’ reaction
It’s official Maximos Palace yesterday avoided commenting on the Samara interview and the government representative is expected to move in a similar line today Pavlos Marinakis. It is recalled that Kyriakos Mitsotakis had meaningfully said that “the whole ND is here” leaving the book of Euripides Stylianidesin which Mr. Samaras did not “attend”, thus wanting to show that the former prime minister has put himself outside the party and faction. And in general, the Maximos Palace does not wish to open a dialogue with Mr. Samaras, since the former prime minister is broadcasting at these decibels.
The scenario of the creation of a party by the former prime minister certainly does not seem at all improbable to government officials and ND MPs, while everyone realizes that there is a right-wing audience – which largely voted for the ruling party – which could be a target group for the former prime minister. In this sense, the crucial bet for Mr. Mitsotakis is the regrouping of forces on the right of the party, given that the ND still has enough “vital space” in the political center.