A Week of “Reading” for the Ruling Party
As the weather turns gloomier and rainier—perfect for curling up with a good book—it seems the ruling party is doing quite a bit of reading this week. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is attending two book presentations by figures from the broader centre-right camp, representing different wings and philosophies within the party.
The week kicks off today at the Athens Conservatory, where Evripidis Stylianidis, the “Karamanlis-aligned” MP for Rodopi, is presenting his book “Artificial Intelligence: Human Rights, Democracy & the Rule of Law.” Tomorrow, attention shifts to the National Gallery, where Alexis Patelis, former head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Office, will present his own book.
A Rare Gathering of Three Prime Ministers
Stylianidis’s event is expected to bring together the entire New Democracy leadership at the Conservatory tonight. Alongside the current Prime Minister, former premiers Antonis Samaras and Kostas Karamanlis will also attend—marking their first joint public appearance in almost a year, since a previous event at the Konstantinos Karamanlis Foundation in Filothei.
That gathering was marked by tension and visible awkwardness—an atmosphere so strained it was said to “cut with a knife.” A few weeks later, Samaras resigned from his post, deepening the rift.
Handshakes and Seating Plans
Since then, things have shifted slightly, with the Maximou Mansion making repeated gestures toward the former prime ministers. “Obviously, none of us opposes the return of one of our presidents,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis recently said, referring to Samaras.
Still, some tension is expected tonight. All eyes will be on whether Mitsotakis will exchange handshakes with Karamanlis and Samaras—and what kind of interactions may follow if he takes the podium. Virtually the entire New Democracy leadership is expected to attend, including Nikos Dendias, whose name has been circulating prominently in recent days.
Of course, the Prime Minister and his predecessors will likely remain close but distant, separated by a few “cyanocrats” in between. The political rift that divided them has not yet been bridged, and Mitsotakis is not inclined to make the concessions Samaras may be seeking. Yet, in a recent interview (Alpha 98.9), Mitsotakis struck a more conciliatory tone:
“I believe time heals and softens corners. The less we talk about it, the less difficult it becomes to reconnect—which, personally, I would like to see,” he said.
Reasserting Political Stability
Against this backdrop of internal maneuvering within New Democracy—and the broader political landscape—Mitsotakis struck a firm tone on political stability during his speech at the SEV General Assembly. His remarks followed flattering comments by Joachim Nagel, head of Germany’s central bank, on Greece’s economic progress.
“Unfortunately, influential figures from abroad must remind us of the obvious—things we often fail to acknowledge amid the toxicity of political confrontation,” Mitsotakis said. “There can be no economic outlook without political stability, no investment without a stable environment,” he added, citing France and current geopolitical challenges as examples.
No Room for “Political Experimentation”
Within this context, the Prime Minister stressed that it is a national duty not to repeat the turmoil of past years. Only strong governments, he said, can ensure the continuity of reforms needed to sustain economic growth. He rejected any “political experimentation” or “submission to populism,” drawing a clear line between his administration and what he views as a fragmented and incoherent opposition.
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