Shock, grief and numbness are the overwhelming emotions gripping the world of New Democracy in the wake of the tragic outcome of the triple arson attack on the homes of party officials in Thessaloniki, which resulted in the death of Vagia Nestora. In the aftermath of the murderous attacks on the homes of Zisis Ioakimovitis, chairman of New Democracy’s governing committee in Thessaloniki, former MP Savvas Anastasiadis, and parliamentary candidate Aphrodite Nestora, the government sent an unequivocal message of zero tolerance toward any form of new terrorism and toward “the bloodshed and division sown by extremists.” Government officials, for their part, are making clear that condemning such murderous attacks is not enough — what is required is the marginalization and political isolation of those responsible. They have also leveled pointed criticism at the stance taken by figures on the Left regarding political violence in the past, placing SYRIZA under Alexis Tsipras squarely in their crosshairs. Against this backdrop, government officials are speaking of political forces that effectively “normalize” violence, calling on all parties to agree on an unequivocal and unconditional condemnation of such actions in practice.
Toxic rhetoric
In any case, both the Prime Minister and government officials are focusing on the escalation of public discourse and the cultivation of toxic rhetoric, arguing that certain political expressions and practices create an environment that can serve as a pretext for extremist actions. The message is also being sent that all political forces must take responsibility — especially those political circles that have shown tolerance toward such behavior — as part of a broader reset in the way political violence and intimidation are addressed.
Against this backdrop, as reported by Kyriakatiki Apogevmatini, New Democracy is attempting to project unity as the informal pre-election period gets underway, while also rallying behind its officials who have been left shaken by the attack on the three Thessaloniki members. The tragic incident also prompted the postponement of a planned party campaign tour to Thessaly next week, which had been scheduled as part of a broader series of regional visits by the Prime Minister and New Democracy officials across the country.
As a show of solidarity, the Prime Minister traveled to Thessaloniki immediately after the attack, while New Democracy organized a symbolic “human chain” outside the Hippokration Hospital last Thursday. The following day, the party’s executive secretary, Konstantinos Kyranakis, sent a letter to New Democracy officials conveying the message that the party “will leave none of its members unprotected” in the face of threats and intimidation circulating on social media. He announced that New Democracy will pursue legal action against internet users who threaten or incite violence online, using every lawful means available to protect its members and defend democratic dialogue. To that end, he called on officials to report to party headquarters any comments or posts — whether from anonymous or named individuals — that go beyond political criticism or robust debate and instead contain threats, incitement, or calls to action.
Polling numbers
The mood within the ruling party remains heavy, yet in this climate both the Maximos Mansion and party headquarters are intensifying their efforts to rally the ranks, drawing clear encouragement from polling data showing that their efforts are bearing fruit. According to findings from a Metron Analysis poll conducted for Mega, New Democracy has increased its share of the vote to 30.4%, recording a rise of 1.9 percentage points compared to the previous month — though the cost of living remains the government’s most stubborn political thorn. Also on an upward trajectory is Alexis Tsipras’ ELAS party, polling at 17.1% and consolidating its position in second place.
The dinner in Pagkrati
Within New Democracy, however, discussion surrounding the moves of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras continues to dominate, following a dinner he hosted in the Pagkrati neighborhood of Athens with three sitting MPs: Charalampos Athanassiou (Lesvos), Giorgos Karasmanos (Pella), and Theophilos Leontaridis (Serres).
The former Prime Minister subsequently issued a statement regarding the “Dokos affair,” questioning whether the Prime Minister’s security adviser remains in his post — a move that has further fueled speculation about the formation of a new party by Samaras himself. Government officials, for their part, are quick to point out that the New Democracy parliamentary group remains solid and unified, while Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis expressed his view that the party’s history has shown that anyone who sets up a party to the right of or alongside New Democracy fails to gain significant traction. As he put it, “the party’s supporters, regardless of who leads them, stay with the party.” Former minister Dora Bakoyannis was sharper still in her criticism of the former Prime Minister, declaring: “Mr. Samaras is the embodiment of hypocrisy and pharisaism.”
The former minister argued that “his problem is his own stubbornness,” and predicted that he will go ahead and found a new political movement, driven by his desire to deny New Democracy an outright parliamentary majority and to damage the center-right for a third time.
Published in “Apogevmatini tis Kyriakis”.
