Kyriakos Mitsotakis launched a two-pronged attack on Alexis Tsipras on Alpha Radio, taking aim both at his attempt to re-emerge politically and at the final days of the SYRIZA government. The prime minister described the former prime minister as a “very worn-out product,” commenting on his political rebranding, while reviving the question of “which debts he cashed in” by keeping Parliament open in 2019 so that changes to the Criminal Code could be passed.

For the first time in this particular statement, Kyriakos Mitsotakis also referred to the personal attacks he says he has endured from Alexis Tsipras for years. “Mr. Tsipras has been attacking me personally—both himself and his mouthpieces—ever since I was elected president of New Democracy. Me, my family, my children. It hasn’t worked out particularly well for him,” he said.

He continued with a pointed remark about the former prime minister’s attempt to reposition himself on the political scene. “I imagined that at some point he might see things a little differently. But someone needs to tell him that rebranding is not a rebirth. It is a product repositioning, and unfortunately, in this case, the product is very worn out.”

The debts

The prime minister’s criticism did not stop at the personal attacks. Turning to Alexis Tsipras’s allegations of corruption and collusion, Mr. Mitsotakis reopened the file on the final days of the SYRIZA government, demanding an explanation for the decision to keep Parliament open after the 2019 European elections.

“At some point, Mr. Tsipras has to explain why he kept Parliament open. Which debts did he cash in by making that choice?” he asked, linking the decision to the passage of changes to the Criminal Code, even though early elections had already been announced.

“He isn’t even original. I don’t expect Mr. Tsipras to take anything back,” he added, concluding that “ultimately, we are all judged by our actions and their results.”

The penalties

Kyriakos Mitsotakis cited specific changes to criminal legislation in 2019, arguing that the SYRIZA government had reduced penalties for serious crimes.

He referred to directing a criminal organization, gang rape and passive bribery, contrasting the provisions in force at the time with the tightening of the Criminal Code by New Democracy in 2021, when, among other things, the possibility of imposing life imprisonment for gang rape was introduced.

“All these changes were made by the very man who calls me corrupt and accused of collusion,” he noted.

The Paraskeuopoulos law

The prime minister went further back, to the first legislative choices made by the Tsipras government, taking aim at the Paraskeuopoulos law, which he linked to the release from prison of people convicted of serious crimes.

He accused the former prime minister of having “no interest whatsoever in dealing with these cases,” arguing that his government’s choices on criminal legislation were at odds with his current criticism of crime.

“We respond through our work,” he stressed, commenting sarcastically that Mr. Tsipras appeared to believe that before 2019 “there was no delinquency, there was no crime, and all these phenomena emerged in 2019 and afterward.”

US midterm elections

Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the possibility of a significant shift in the balance of power in the US Congress following the midterm elections, while estimating that such a development would not negatively affect Greek-American relations.

Mr. Mitsotakis noted that a possible change in Congress would primarily concern US domestic politics, pointing out that the rising cost of living is a major issue for American voters. As he explained, there is a gap between the picture of the economy presented by Donald Trump and the one people perceive in their everyday lives.

As far as Greece is concerned, he stressed that relations with the United States have considerable depth and estimated that any changes in the political balance of power would not work against Greek interests.

We are preparing for a new outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf

Referring to the Middle East, the prime minister said the government was examining every possible scenario. “We must be prepared for every eventuality, and I assure you that we are also preparing for the possibility of a new outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf,” he said, adding that “no one can rule out a third round of conflict.”

He also pointed out that a resumption of military operations would make it harder for oil prices to come down, affecting the cost of living worldwide.

Regarding the Greek economy, he said that certain safeguards had been put in place to cushion the impact of rising prices, while clarifying that they did not constitute a complete solution to the problem. “Is this the answer to the problem? No,” he said pointedly.

The prime minister referred to “the €400 that we will now give to all pensioners,” as well as the rent rebate, saying: “On its own, it is not enough. We also need to increase the supply of apartments.”