Afrodite Latinoopoulou’s Political Ascent: A Challenge to Kyriakos Velopoulos and the Right-Wing Establishment

Afrodite Latinoopoulou, with a modest 3.04% in the European Parliament vote, is determined to make her mark on Greece’s right-wing political landscape. Positioned as a challenger to Kyriakos Velopoulos’s Hellenic Solution, she aims to rise through the ranks and take her place in the so-called “patriotic space” where Velopoulos has been a prominent figure in recent years.

Both the Hellenic Solution and Latinoopoulou’s party, the Voice of Reason, share their headquarters in Thessaloniki—a long-time stronghold for right-wing politics. In the 2019 European elections, Velopoulos’s party placed second in Thessaloniki, securing 13.73% of the vote in Thessaloniki A and 15.82% in Thessaloniki B. Meanwhile, the Voice of Reason secured respectable results with 3.42% and 3.62% in those districts, with its strongest showing in Evros at 6.36%.

Latinoopoulou’s rise is driven by a growing wave of support, which, according to MRB, has seen a 9.1% crossover from Velopoulos’s voters. However, tensions between the two political figures have flared, largely due to a lawsuit filed by Latinoopoulou against Velopoulos for defamation, seeking €300,000 in damages. This legal battle follows a series of accusations from Latinoopoulou, who claims that Velopoulos has orchestrated a campaign to politically eliminate her, alleging that the Hellenic Solution leader has resorted to lies and personal attacks.

In a series of fiery statements, Latinoopoulou has condemned Velopoulos for his alleged behavior, likening him to a “know-it-all bartender” who flips between roles, from expert to seismologist to judge. She also criticized his sale of purportedly holy items, calling him a charlatan. Her rhetoric underscores a broader critique of what she sees as Velopoulos’s lack of seriousness and his tendency to play to populist sentiment rather than engage in constructive political discourse.

Latinoopoulou’s position has also found resonance among Europe’s anti-establishment leaders, with her participation in the Patriots for Europe Eurogroup meeting in Madrid alongside figures like Viktor Orban, Matteo Salvini, and Marine Le Pen. Her political ambitions are clear—she wants to position herself as part of a pan-European right-wing wave.

Meanwhile, Velopoulos has maintained his political prominence, even securing a surprising 8.4% in a recent poll, placing his party ahead of Greece’s Communist Party (KKE). However, the competition between him and Latinoopoulou is intensifying, as the two parties vie for dominance in Greece’s increasingly polarized political climate.

Internationally, both Velopoulos and Latinoopoulou are aligned with the anti-systemic sentiments that have defined global populist movements since the election of Donald Trump. However, both have yet to secure significant influence at the international level, with neither figure attending Trump’s inauguration or establishing themselves among the core leaders of European populism—though Latinoopoulou’s rise is becoming more noticeable, with her 9.8% standing in recent polls surpassing Velopoulos’s 8.5%.

While Hellenic Solution’s fortunes have fluctuated, the rise of the Voice of Reason could ultimately threaten Velopoulos’s hold on Greece’s right-wing sector. The Tempi train tragedy, which has ignited protests and political debates, has further sharpened the divide between the two parties. Despite challenges, Latinoopoulou’s sharp criticism of her rivals and her growing base of support signals that the political battle between her and Velopoulos is far from over.

As the contest heats up, both parties will face the task of appealing to a broader electorate, balancing the demands of nationalist sentiment with the pragmatism needed to build a lasting political presence. The outcome of this rivalry could significantly reshape the political landscape in Greece for years to come.