The rift between erstwhile Greek PM Antonis Samaras and PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a new episode on Sunday as the former was absent from the important vote on the 2025 state budget in parliament.
Samaras, who was expelled from the New Democracy (Nea Dimokratia) party on November 16, continues his inexplicably tough criticism against the government for the handling of Greece-Turkey relations. A criticism that, according to political analysts, borders on slander.
The former prime minister had a new opportunity to accuse Mitsotakis of underbidding in his talks with Turkey over the Greek continental shelf and sovereignty of certain Aegean islands. In his speech during the conference “1974-2024 Transition: 50 Years of Greek Foreign Policy,” Samaras took new jabs at Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis.
Samaras hinted that in the secret talks between Greece and Turkey, the Greek side is making concessions to the neighbor country that are against Greece and Cyprus’ interests.
The former prime minister said that in foreign affairs the government is implementing a policy of appeasement in the Aegean and called it the “Prespes of the Aegean.” He was referring to the concessions the Syriza government had made in the agreement for the naming of Greece’s northern neighbor, North Macedonia. Any such agreement with Ankara, he said, will be against Greek interests.
In November, Samaras had taken things to the extreme by saying that Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a friendly chat and did not discuss the serious Cyprus-Turkey issues. This had caused a bitter reaction from Cyprus’ part.
Samaras further said that his expulsion from New Democracy will not stop him from being active in parliament as an independent lawmaker and that it’s his patriotic duty to continue to be present and active in political developments from now on.
Samaras and the parties to the right of ND
Political analysts believe that it is possible for Antonis Samaras to form a new right-wing party. However, even though there are certain New Democracy lawmakers who agree with his point on the Greece-Turkey talks, they will not follow him if he decides to start a new party.
Others speak of a slight possibility that Antonis Samaras will approach the three right-wing parties to form a strong right-wing coalition. The three main parties more conservative than center-right New Democracy – Greek Solution, Voice of Reason and Niki (Victory) – collectively represent around 20% of the Greek electorate. Yet, political ambitions and ideological divisions will prevent them from joining forces.
Greek Solution (Elliniki Lysi) Chief Kyriakos Velopoulos, formerly of People’s Orthodox Rally (LAOS), reportedly said he’s not willing to collaborate with New Democracy. The reason, he said, was that he doesn’t want to get stiffed like LAOS leader Giorgos Karatzaferis when three of his prominent MPs deserted the party and joined New Democracy (Adonis Georgiadis, Thanos Plevris and Makis Voridis).
Voice of Reason (Foni Logikis) leader Aphrodite Latinopoulou, an upcoming star in Greek Parliament, has stated she has no intention of “being under anyone, not even Antonis Samaras.”
Niki (Victory), is currently in crisis, with the most recent resignation of MP Giorgos Apostolakis who objected to the party being run by “elders.”
Insiders say that it is relatively early to say if and when Samaras will start a party. the director of Antonis Samaras’ press office and close associate, Nikos Tsoutsias, said that all possibilities are open for a new party.
However, Tsoutsias said that Samaras is waiting to see Mitsotakis’ choice of candidate for President of the Hellenic Republic and then he will decide how to move.
History repeats itself
There is something peculiar about Samaras and the Mitsotakis family.
Going back to 1992, a younger Antonis Samaras had deserted New Democracy that was in government under the leadership of Konstantinos Mitsotakis, father of current Prime Mister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Samaras formed his own party, Political Spring, a year later. As a result, New Democracy lost the election to PASOK, under Andreas Papandreou.
On April 13, 1992, the council of political leaders was convened by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Karamanlis, to discuss this hot national issue. At this meeting, Antonis Samaras, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented a note with seven action points, which clearly differed from the government line.
His initiative sparked a strong reaction from both the President and Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis. At the press conference that followed, Mitsotakis announced the dismissal of Samaras from the government and took over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs himself.
From 1992 until the end of the Mitsotakis term, Samaras maintained his views on foreign policy. In October of that year, he resigned from his parliamentary seat and left New Democracy.
On June 30, 1993, he founded the Political Spring, a party that moved to the right of the New Democracy and emphasized national issues, especially the issue of “Macedonia.” He was followed by top ND officials, such as Nikitas Kaklamanis, Andreas Lentakis, Akis Gerontopoulos, Stathis Panagoulis and others.
The first MPs to leave ND and join Political Spring in September 1993 – while retaining their parliamentary seats – were Stefanos Stefanopoulos, MP for Ilia, and Giorgos Sympilides, MP for Kilkis. The latter’s name has been heard a lot recently, due to the MP departures from Syriza.
With the departure of Giorgos Sympilides, New Democracy lost its declared majority, having only 150 seats in its parliamentary group. Konstantinos Mitsotakis was forced to call early elections for October 1993, only to lose from PASOK.
On May 13, 2004, Political Spring was officially dissolved and Antonis Samaras rejoined New Democracy. He even participated on the 2004 European ballot in which he was elected in the European Parliament.
The difference between the 2024 feud and the one in 1992 is that Samaras had left New Democracy on his own, while in November he was ousted by the son of the man he had toppled 32 years ago.