Kyriakos Mitsotakis is facing critical decisions on the government’s strategic orientation in the wake of Friday’s mass rallies over Tempi that demonstrated the social dynamics of the case. The next day is de facto not easy for Mitsotakis, who with his Sunday Facebook post certainly wanted to show that he “got the message”, making it clear that the government will be judged by the quality of the railway it must deliver in 2027. In doing so, of course, the Prime Minister implicitly but clearly acknowledged that not as much has been done as should have been done from 2023 onwards to ensure rail safety.

Despite the acknowledgement of the situation, however, the next day for Maximou is far from easy, as the prime minister is required to take political initiatives in the coming period to restore – as much as possible – the government’s image. The demographic deterioration of ND is a given, just as it is a given that the feedback from the Tempi affair is piling up political damage. “The situation that is taking shape should not be underestimated because it is obvious that to a large section of society what we say and do does not go down easily or rightly,” says a central government official.

The Parliament and the restart

Chronologically, however, the prime minister’s attention this week will be on the Parliament battle. Today at 09:30, the debate on the Prior Investigative Committee concerning Christos Triandopoulos.

The conclusion of the EODASAM is not at all flattering for the manipulations made in the field, something that the government has been acknowledging, as the management that was done contributed to the loss of critical data. On this, of course, government officials countered with the argument that there was no fraudulent cover-up, as the opposition claims.

In any case, the burden of the debate will be lifted by Makis Voridis, while on Wednesday Kyriakos Mitsotakis will appear in the pre-agenda debate, responding to the government’s actions and setting the tone for what needs to be done from now on. The debate will be interrupted after the motion of no-confidence to be tabled by PASOK and the debate will culminate with the vote on Friday.

After next Friday, however, Mitsotakis will be faced with his decisions, with an eye on the social front that has formed. The governmental restart is tentatively predicted to be sweeping, because it is clear that the government cannot continue with business as usual.

The prime minister has already elevated the state of the railways to the status of “mother of battles”. “The finding has revealed a situation far from what we want. Our infrastructure must be made modern and safe. Because what has been done in recent years is not enough. And we know it,” he wrote in his Sunday post.

Now, changes must be made without time being an ally, but it is imperative that they are made, as Mitsotakis is being judged strictly and personally by the people.

The trains are proving to be an “Achilles’ heel” of the government, as the day of the accident also highlighted the inadequate engagement of the then leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with the outstanding issues of the railway, which was left to “fall into disrepair” from the time of the Memoranda and onwards.

It is also considered clear that Mitsotakis is about to make decisions about the functioning of his government, as the concept of a restart cannot be limited to rail policies alone. “Now we are entering a heavy political period and a readjustment of strategy is required,” a top minister stated. Policies, after all, are served by people, but also by a broader strategic orientation of the power center.

This is now being worked out in the light of the new social balances that are taking shape. The prime minister’s associates believe he will weigh his decisions and move sometime in the coming weeks to a reform that will touch the core of Megaro Maximou. This, according to sources, will take place after Kostas Tasoulas is sworn in and by the week of March 17-21.

How sweeping this reshuffle will be remains to be seen, as Mitsotakis’ reshuffles are known to start from a broader starting point and end in something narrower. However, given that this is the most crucial turning point of the government, a few months before it completes six months in power, it is estimated that the prime minister’s decisions will not be trivial either. And no one should be considered to be in the clear, not even close associates of Mitsotakis in the government’s core.

Suggestions and thoughts abound, according to reports, with some ministers reportedly considering that one idea would be to reinstate the “government committee,” a political body with the participation of top government ministers that last existed under Kostas Karamanlis’ rule. There is no decision in this regard, as the period is suitable for brainstorming. The changes, however, are considered highly likely to involve persons who created negative “polarization” in the previous period. The only certainty is that the period of governmental inertia and restlessness due to the absence of a meaningful opposition has passed.