The center-left in Greece is going through a crisis after the disappointing results of the June 9th European elections. They failed to take advantage of the drop in popularity of the ruling New Democracy party.
Exactly one year after the emphatic win of center-right New Democracy in the 2023 national elections that forced main opposition Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras to resign from his post, the center-left has not managed to regroup and assert its position on the political map.
On the contrary, the two major contenders to the premiership, Syriza and PASOK, came out of the European elections performing poorly, causing voters and MPs alike to doubt the abilities and leadership skills of their presidents, Stefanos Kasselakis and Nikos Androulakis, respectively.
Specifically, the comparison to the 2023 national election results to this year’s for the European Parliament show both top contenders faring below expectations in percentage of the total vote (2023/2024 comparison: ND 40.56/28.31, Syriza 17.83/14.92). While PASOK, another major contender, accumulated 11.84 percent of the vote in 2023, this year in the EU Parliament elections, it attained 12.79 percent.
The figures mean that all three major players were in fact the losers of the June 9th ballot. The abstention all-time record (58.61 percent) is an indication that Greek voters are tired of a political system that seems to be indifferent to the common person.
The center-left lost ground in the election
Before the June 9th elections, Syriza and PASOK seemed confident that, after a period of high prices for goods and services, dubious judicial decisions, mismanagement, and signs of arrogance on behalf of the government, voters would turn to the left. The confidence of Syriza was based on the notion that newcomer Stefanos Kasselakis would revive the party as the fresh face with no political past and the one with something different to offer to the center-leftist crowd.
Kasselakis made an exhaustive election campaign, visiting every corner of Greece. In his speeches, he did not hesitate to present himself as the next prime minister of Greece to potential voters, confident that Syriza would surpass twenty percent of the total vote. His excessive promotion of himself rather than the party and his grandiose promises to potential voters received heavy criticism from leftist commentators.
PASOK President Nikos Androulakis was also confident that general dissatisfaction with the policies of Kyriakos Mitsotakis would steer the vote to his side. Furthermore, he was counting on the inexperienced Syriza leader to continue making communication mistakes that would cost him in the ballot box. He was expecting to get votes from disgruntled Syriza followers to the point that he kept saying in his pre-election speeches that PASOK would be the second party.
On Monday, June 10th, both contenders appeared skeptical and attempted to counterbalance their losses to those of New Democracy. Nonetheless, this was not enough for their followers and respective parliamentary members.
Cries for a center-left coalition
Days after election day, cries for a center-left coalition began being heard. These came from both parties. Syriza and PASOK parliamentary members started making statements and giving interviews to the media, speaking of an urgent need for a center-left coalition. Initially, the proposal was expressed in broad terms, but, as days passed, talks about the need for a coalition became more specific. They were more expressions of discontent with the respective party leaders, but the cries soon became demands.
Kasselakis and Androulakis each reacted in their own way. The Syriza leader dismissed Giorgos Tsipras, a cousin of former PM Alexis Tsipras, and Thanasis Theocharopoulos from the position of parliamentary advisor. Tsipras commented that the decision was “against the democratic ideas of transparency and accountability.” Theocharopoulos described his expulsion as “political cleansing,” saying that “Kasselakis is responsible for the negative results in the European elections.”
Androulakis, who has maintained a low-key stance since the election results, sent messages to his party members who doubt his achievements and criticize his leadership skills through media interviews. Speaking on public television ERT, he emphasized that he would not allow the discord and poisonous talks that hurt the party in the past to continue.
He warned his opponents within the party that he would expel individuals who make toxic comments. He also said decisions will be made on June 30th at the PASOK Central Political Committee Conference.
Why do the two party leaders turn a deaf ear?
Both Syriza and PASOK each have a core of voters that follow the party regardless of who is in charge. Yet, if the two parties collaborated now, they would still not surpass support for the ruling party. It was inevitable then that members of both parties would put the blame of the election failure on the the leader and demand change of leadership.
Nonetheless, both party leaders seem determined to cling to their seats. Kasselakis originally opposed the coalition proposition, but, as a tactician, he recently appeared somewhat positive. At the same time, he made it clear that he aims to claim leadership regardless of the shape of the coalition.
Androulakis is also willing to fight to the end to hold on to his place at the top of PASOK. Yet, his actions and overall attitude indicate he is worried his opponents within the party might end up removing him from his position.
A rather expected contender for PASOK leadership is Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, who has expressed his willingness to lead the party. He was elected mayor six months ago and has, since then, shown several signs of involvement with PASOK. Doukas is popular among PASOK voters even though he has not yet had any achievements as mayor. He is also quite popular with those outside the party.
The outside player
Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has appeared as deus ex machina following the elections, promoting the urgent need for a center-left coalition. The previously radical leftist, who won the 2015 election, has mellowed out and shed his Marxist skin. He now presents as a moderate center-leftist who is not interested in running for office but instead cares deeply for the future of the center-left in Greece.
Tsipras, who recently founded the Alexis Tsipras Institute, has been engaged in talks with former Prime Minister and PASOK MP Giorgos Papandreou on a coalition between PASOK and Syriza. Several former PASOK MPs have joined Syriza since the leftist party came to power in 2015. Practically all of them are still with Syriza, and some have openly doubted Kasselakis’ leadership following the European election results.
On Thursday, the dismissals of Theocharis and Tsipras were harshly criticized. Targeting Kasselakis, a Syriza MP, formerly with PASOK, said on Skai television: “The dismissals that have taken place are purely political prosecution dismissals. Whoever disagrees with the Kasselakis team is out.” It remains to be seen whether the two parties will change leadership and whether, in some manner, a center-left coalition will become a reality. The question is who will lead that coalition.
This was the question in a poll, conducted by GPO, about who would best unite and lead the center-left in Greece. The results were not as surprising as one would expect. According to 19 percent of poll participants, the most well suited politician for leading the center-left, out of the given poll options, would be Alexis Tsipras. Following Tsipras are:
- Kasselakis with 10.6 percent
- Androulakis with 10.4 percent
- Doukas with 9.3 percent
- PASOK MP Pavlos Geroulanos with 6.2 percent
- PASOK MP Manos Christodoulakis with 4.7 percent
- PASOK MP Pavlos Christidis with 4.1 percent.
However, the majority of respondents (28 percent) believe that none of the above would be suited to unite or lead the center-left in Greece.