The progressive opposition is launching a full-scale counterattack against Maria Karystianou’s nascent party following her statements on abortion.

Against the backdrop of the political storm that has erupted, many party offices are trying to clearly define their dividing lines with the new party, although a window for collaboration with Karystianou was opened yesterday by the Vice President of the Democracy Movement, Theodora Tzakri, ahead of her party’s Congress in early February.

As Tzakri stated, at this stage, exclusion is not an issue, since “movements must collaborate, find a path as long as the paths converge rather than diverge,” clarifying that any potential cooperation would be judged based on Karystianou’s political positions. “We must first act according to her overall proposals and positions,” argued the Vice President of the Democracy Movement, concluding that “I exclude nothing.”

At the same time, progressive opposition officials choose to describe Karystianou’s nascent party as one with an “extremely conservative character,” reproducing “far-right logics,” believing that its informal leader will henceforth keep her cards close to her chest in order to prevent possible political damage, such as that caused by her statement on abortion.

Although they choose not to attack her head-on, many opposition figures expect that in the coming period Karystianou will develop a “Tea Party” agenda, appealing to a more conservative audience as well as promoting a denunciatory approach toward the existing political establishment, in order to maintain the aura of being new in the political game.

This interpretation also applies to the statements of Dimitris Natsios, head of the “Niki” party, who commented yesterday: “We are pleased that Karystianou aligns with our positions on abortion,” adding that “we do not waver at the first shot; we are consistent on this issue and believe life should be prioritized.”

Natsios also noted that he respects Karystianou, stating that she faces unfair attacks and “cannibalization.” “It shows recklessness. Last night you praised her and today she’s a monster?” he observed, referring to statements by public figures. Regarding potential collaborations with Karystianou, he said, “When she presents the party, its positions, and the people surrounding her, we will judge.”

Meanwhile, yesterday’s Pulse poll shows centrifugal trends from existing opposition parties, trends that also feed into Karystianou’s nascent party. Specifically, 10.5% (up from 9.7% in December) chose “another party” – a figure associated with anticipation of new parties being formed under Maria Karystianou and Alexis Tsipras. Furthermore, 54% of those voting for “another party” view Karystianou’s party positively, and 11% view Tsipras’ party positively.

Overlapping voter pools

A key consideration for Karystianou’s party is also the overlapping voter pools it shares with a yet-to-be-formed party of Tsipras. Of those who view Karystianou’s party positively in the Pulse survey (15% of the total sample), 34% also view Tsipras’ party positively, while of those who are “interested” (16% of the total sample), more than one in ten express the same for Tsipras’ party.

This indicates an overlap of more than 40%, which former and current SYRIZA-PS officials believe Karystianou will seek to claim in the near future, having already launched two direct attacks against Alexis Tsipras.

In fact, the shared voter pool is seen by many party insiders as the reason behind Karystianou’s campaign to discredit the SYRIZA-PS government, as she herself spoke of “the worst memorandum” and launched a scathing attack on the former Prime Minister.

In the same context, these insiders note that Karystianou’s circle includes figures who played a leading role in the communication battle to discredit the “Prespa Agreement,” which bears Alexis Tsipras’ personal signature.

Additionally, according to the Pulse survey, Maria Karystianou has very high penetration among voters of the “Plefsi Eleftherias” (Course of Freedom) party, with 20% expressing positive opinions of her party. This is due to the party’s president repeatedly criticizing the deeds and actions of Alexis Tsipras, having definitively closed the chapter on her participation in the SYRIZA-PS government.