The decision to create a new political party is now considered final, according to sources close to Antonis Samaras, with attention shifting from whether the next step will be taken to when exactly the official announcement will be made. Close associates of the former prime minister argue that all room for patience toward New Democracy has been exhausted, noting that he “had given New Democracy time for one last chance — but that chance was left unexploited.” Samaras’ inner circle is being careful not to reveal their full hand regarding the timing of the announcement. However, those familiar with the planning insist that the final move will come at a moment when the government finds itself under heightened political pressure. “The party will be launched at New Democracy’s most difficult moment,” a source with knowledge of the plans said, implying that unfolding political developments will ultimately determine the final timeline.
The “Blue Homeland” bill seen as a key trigger
In the same vein, particular significance is being attached to October — and specifically to the planned passage of the Blue Homeland doctrine into Turkish law by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, a development that Samaras’ associates view as a pivotal moment for bringing national sovereignty issues to the forefront of the political agenda. At the same time, within the inner circle, April 5th has reportedly already been circled as a possible electoral milestone — a date around which political planning and projections are being developed — should Mitsotakis ultimately choose not to call snap elections in the autumn.
Until the new party is officially announced, Antonis Samaras intends to maintain a high public profile, making use of every available political platform. Initiatives along these lines include his recent intervention calling for recognition of the Pontic Genocide, as well as his meeting with U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Associates note that until the end of July — when parliament effectively suspends its work for the summer recess — and again from the resumption of parliamentary sessions in September, the former prime minister holds the advantage of being able to make parliamentary interventions that can sharpen and reinforce his political profile.
At the same time, sources report that he is receiving a large number of invitations to speak at public events held by organizations across the country. Significant emphasis is also being placed on the digital strategy of the party-in-the-making. The goal is to build a modern team capable of producing daily content across social media platforms and actively promoting the new political movement’s positions. According to well-placed sources cited by the “Big Mouth” column on powergame.gr, a group of young people is being assembled around the former prime minister, with the ambition of forming his own dedicated “Truth Squad.”
Irritation over public appeals from New Democracy figures
Meanwhile, public appeals from New Democracy figures urging Antonis Samaras not to proceed with founding a new party are being met with visible irritation by those in his circle. Following New Democracy’s recent party rally in Messinia, led by Konstantinos Kyranakis, associates of the former prime minister commented sarcastically that it was “the smallest New Democracy gathering in that regional unit ever.” The same circles also point out that under Mitsotakis, the party’s approach toward former prime ministers has fundamentally changed. As they note, “even Samaras himself, when he was prime minister, never publicly responded when the late honorary president of New Democracy, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, issued a statement supporting Dora Bakoyannis’ party.”
Along the same lines, they add that “the way these appeals are being made to Mr. Samaras — telling him not to form a party — means they cannot be taken seriously, because the party leader himself expelled the former prime minister,” while other associates argue that “such appeals and exhortations simply shouldn’t be made — New Democracy members cannot tell a former prime minister what to do.”
Despite the fact that the official announcement of the new political party has not yet been made, members of Antonis Samaras’ team insist that organizational preparations are already at an advanced stage. Associates of the former prime minister confirm that most candidate lists have essentially been drafted, drawing on figures not only from the world of politics but also from local government, academia, the business community, and civil society. The aim, as they describe it, is to build a broad-based movement with no ties to the old “Political Spring” party, but with a strong political footprint across the wider patriotic and conservative space.
Who’s in the inner core
The tight inner circle driving the planning continues to include Samaras’ longtime associates Kostas Bouras, Nikos Tsioutsias, and Chrysanthos Lazaridis, while names being discussed for the candidate lists include, among others, Panos Panagiotόpoulos, Kostas Markopoulos, and Ioanna Gkelestathi. Northern Athens is generating particular interest, with associates of the former prime minister teasing “a striking surprise” for that constituency. The most intense political activity, however, is being recorded in the Peloponnese. Sources report that Antonis Samaras has restored his relationship with former regional governor Petros Tatoulis, with the two men finding themselves in broad agreement on their reading of current political developments. The same sources say it is being seriously considered whether his daughter, Evi Tatoulis, might stand as a candidate — with those close to her saying she has stated that “politics is not closed for me.”
In Laconia, the candidacy of Fevronia Patrianakou is considered virtually confirmed; in Piraeus, that of Zoe Roussou; in Western Athens, Thanasis Skordas; in Larissa, Stella Biziou; and in Argolis, Deputy Regional Governor Dimitris Schinochoritsis. Akis Gerontopoulos continues to play a central role for Macedonia and Thrace, having maintained a long-standing relationship of trust with the former prime minister dating back to the days of the “Political Spring” party. The possibility of cooperation with independent MP Marios Salmas also remains open — though not in his current constituency of Aitoloakarnania, but in Attica. Others whose names are being floated include Kostas Tzavaras, Argyris Dtinopoulos, Manolis Aggelakas, Christos Zois, Antonis Bezas, and Dimitris Christogiannis, as well as Professor Ioannis Mazis, the head of the Theology Department at the University of Athens Giannis Panagiotόpoulos, retired ambassador Giorgos Ayfantis, and educator Meletis Meletopoulos.
In Messinia, many consider it all but certain that MP Miltos Chrysomallis will defect to the new political venture, while sources close to the former prime minister say that “Samaras is personally overseeing the preparation of the Messinia candidate list.”
The polling numbers behind a Samaras party
At the same time, considerable interest surrounds the polling projections for a party led by Antonis Samaras. His team is projecting optimism, claiming that their own internal surveys place the new venture close to 10%, with some areas of Northern Greece — such as Western Macedonia — showing even higher figures, partly by drawing support away from Maria Karystianou’s party. However, publicly available polling data does not yet support that picture. The qualitative findings of a recent Alco survey indicate that the greatest interest in a potential Samaras party comes from voters of the Greek Solution, Niki, and Voice of Reason parties, as well as from undecided voters — while the direct impact on New Democracy appears limited for now. Political analysts, however, note that a significant portion of undecided voters originates from the governing party’s own voter pool, a factor that could ultimately lead to greater losses for New Democracy. A similar picture emerges from a GPO poll. According to its findings, roughly one in ten New Democracy voters from the last European Parliament elections says they would seriously consider supporting a Samaras party. The data also shows noteworthy penetration among voters of parties to the right of New Democracy, as well as among PASOK supporters. Based on current data, early electoral projections place a potential Samaras party’s performance in the range of 2.5% to 4.2%.
Originally published in the “Parapolitika” newspaper.
