New Republic

The… bullet from the lips of Antonis Samaras had gone “If you want my opinion, I consider Costas Karamanlis the best choice” said the former prime minister on “Vima tis Kyriaki” (17/11) and a few hours later he was deleted from New Democracy by a decision of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The deletion did not come only because of the proposal for the Presidency of the Republic. However, it was considered unfair to open the discussion about the person, while the Maximos Palace had announced in all tones that such a conversation is untimely and offensive to the institution. +

From the environment of Kostas Karamanlis, only two words were allowed to leak out: “No comment”. A little later, however, and while paraphilology was raging, some more were added: “There was no pre-arrangement”. However, knowing the relationship that the two former prime ministers have recently developed, many could not believe that Ant. Samaras did not inform K. of his move. Karamanlis.

The former prime minister was abroad when the bomb “exploded” and there was intense speculation as to whether he should make a statement on Samara’s removal or answer the matter concerning his person. There were only seven days until his scheduled public appearance in Patras and his speech about his book Giorgos Harvalias “Devil! Blood, oblivion and servitude”.

Finally, it was decided to make his intervention at the event, speaking both about the internal affairs of the faction, but also about the national ones, which was the main reason for the deletion of Antonis Samaras. The antennae of Megaros Maximos, clearly oriented towards the Achaean capital, hoped that the former prime minister would not add more salt to the internal party wound. “Every position and speech of a former prime minister has value, we always expect comments and observations” government sources said in anticipation of the speech. “Mr. Karamanlis always positions himself with dignity” the government spokesman said on Friday, a few hours before the former prime minister opened his papers.

The disagreement with the Samaras deletion is clear

What is certain is that the conclusion of the speech of Kostas Karamanlis did not please Megaro Maximos, as he fully expressed his disagreement with the disciplinary measures taken against Antonis Samaras. The former prime minister “saw” through the controversial deletion of “demonizing dissent”but also of the criticism made by Ant. Samaras (and from him) on national issues, arguing that this attitude of Megaros Maximos does not contribute to the unity of support for the national line.

“I want to reiterate that the other opinion, the different reading, even the strong criticism should not be demonized. And in any case, they are not dealt with by disciplinary measures, making it even more difficult the necessary national unity to support the national line”.

Previously, he had mentioned the attitude that our country should take towards Turkey – “To deal with it effectively”as he said, “with clear positions on the one and only difference we have with Turkey, namely the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf. The issues that Turkey is slyly and arbitrarily trying to put on the agenda are non-existent. Whether it is about national sovereignty or sovereign rights, firmly established in International Law, or about the demilitarization of the islands. Let Turkey forget these things as well as those international actors who encourage or tolerate them” said Kostas Karamanlis, then rushing to solve the riddle after the proposal made by Mr. Let Samaras be the next President of the Republic.

“I am honored by the thought, especially when it comes from a former prime minister. But I want to make it clear that the matter neither concerns nor interests me”. Blue MPs argue that Kostas Karamanlis has mentally distanced himself from New Democracy, without this however meaning that he does not seek or desire its unity. His decision not to be an MP in the last national election in 2023 “has freed him in his public positions” the same sources say. The next of these is scheduled for December 7 in the Old Parliament.

Antonis Samaras picks up the glove after the announcement of his suspension. As he states in his statement “arrogance and an obvious lack of composure explain Mitsotakis’ move. Cut off from the base, he leads a party that looks a bit like New Democracy».

He asks to be told where he is wrong and wonders “in Greek-Turkish, where just yesterday the responsible general director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resigned? In the difficulty of the citizens to cope with the accuracy? In the woke agenda, which while he himself brought it to Greece, after Trump’s election he suddenly talks about the tyranny of the minority? Maybe at Novartis? Or maybe because I nominated Costas Karamanlis for President of the Republic?».

He concludes by stating that “I sacrificed everything for the country, even my health. But no one can force me to sacrifice my conscience. The judge of all of us will be the people and history».

The entire statement of Antonis Samaras

Arrogance and an obvious lack of composure explain Mitsotakis’ move. Cut off from the base, he leads a party that looks a bit like New Democracy. I spoke, I spoke and I will speak only about the things that concern Greece.

So let us know where I am wrong. In Greek-Turkish, where just yesterday the responsible director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resigned? In the difficulty of the citizens to cope with the accuracy? In the woke agenda, which while he himself brought it to Greece, after Trump’s election he suddenly talks about the tyranny of the minority? Maybe at Novartis? Or maybe because I nominated Costas Karamanlis for President of the Republic?

I sacrificed everything for the country, even my health. But no one can force me to sacrifice my conscience. The judge of all of us will be the people and history.

The 50th anniversary of its foundation was celebrated by Nea Dimokratia, with a large street party that took place outside the party’s historic offices, on Rigillis Street.

The central point of the evening could not be other than the speech of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who, among other things, said that “we honor all our leaders, present and absent”

“We remained firmly on the right side of history. Constantly facing the carnage of division and the poison of populism. We are the most resistant faction in the country” added the prime minister.

The beautiful evening helped the plans of the organizers with a crowd of people flocking long before the speech of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and filling the street in front of the historic offices of the party.

It is noteworthy, perhaps helped by the choice of street party, that the average age was considerably younger than usual at party events.

The party’s front-line executives and MPs were there early on with most of them in a good mood and chatting for quite some time in a relaxed atmosphere with the press representatives and more.

They shone through the absence of Karamanlis – Samaras

Apart from those present, however, history was also made by those who were absent. In particular, the two former prime ministers, Kostas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras, who, although invited, chose not to attend, sending a resounding message to the current party leadership.

The wells

As expected, in the wells of the event, this action was commented on a lot, with the party officials being divided, depending on their internal party origins.

“I don’t know if ND or Potami is celebrating today,” commented an executive who is close to Antonis Samaras, referring to the multitude of executives who now belong to ND and come from the center and center-left.

After all, the opening of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the center and the change of course on issues such as the marriage of same-sex couples has disturbed several “hard” right-wingers, who have Antonis Samaras as their point of reference.

“It is a shame especially for Karamanlis” commented another official, adding that “it is unthinkable that he does not honor the party founded by his uncle, the Nationalist”.

On the other hand, there were not a few who defended the former prime minister’s stance.

The developments in the center-left

The developments in the opposition parties were also at the center of the discussions. Here, however, there was a consensus of opinion with Piraeus executives stating that “we are playing football alone but it is starting to do us no good”.

“I don’t know what will happen to PASOK, but SYRIZA no longer exists,” emphasized a government official.

See images from the event