Polls show double-digit potential for a political party led by Maria Karystianou, with analysts estimating that a possible venture by the mother of tragically lost Martha Psaropoulou could fill the gap in Greece’s political system and address the opposition’s inability to express the social dissatisfaction with the government recorded in polls. Ms. Karystianou, in a recent television interview on Mega, set out for the first time the conditions under which she might consider entering active politics, commenting on the 25% support that polls suggest represents her potential audience.
As she said: “For me, if this 25% is real, it shows that society no longer wants something that comes from the system. Society needs independent and incorruptible people who will come with a new program and step forward. I don’t know if I could lead such an effort, but I don’t see it personally for me. We’re not thinking about something like that yet, but I’m also in the 25% who feel this need. If something were created that was compatible with my thoughts, it goes without saying that I would be part of it.
The “Karystianou party” doesn’t touch New Democracy’s core – Expected to further fragment the opposition
Ms. Karystianou’s response was seen as leaving open the possibility of her involvement in the political scene, triggering a new round of scenarios about the “Karystianou party.” Political analysts estimate that a “Karystianou party” or “Tempe party” doesn’t affect New Democracy’s hardcore base, so it wouldn’t cause electoral losses for Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s party. They conclude that such a venture would compete for the anti-establishment vote and attract citizens angry and dissatisfied with government policy, damaging smaller parties (Greek Solution, Course of Freedom, New Left) and further fragmenting the opposition space.
The emerging “Karystianou party” could express the protest vote
It’s also estimated that the possible formation of this specific party would significantly affect the decisions of two former prime ministers, Alexis Tsipras and Antonis Samaras, who are reportedly testing the political environment and considering taking initiative. A potential move by the president of the “Tempe 2023” Association would overturn political correlations. However, a general observation about the potential vote recorded in polls is that a large distance needs to be covered before it translates into ballot box results. Political figures following the processes estimate that this emerging political initiative will be single-issue focused, with the demand for justice for Tempe at its center. However, they note that in any case, the emerging party should not be underestimated, as it could express the protest vote, recalling the impressive citizen response to last year’s rallies.
Speaking recently on Parapolitika 90.1, Course of Freedom leader Zoe Konstantopoulou commented on rumors about Maria Karystianou creating a party and emphasized: “Maria Karystianou is fighting a sacred battle and has managed to mobilize many people, while honoring her child in the most admirable way. I stand by her, as with all parents. It’s every citizen’s right to form a party.”
Maximos Mansion’s “line” regarding Karystianou
From the government side, there have been no comments throughout the previous period about the possibility of the 19-year-old victim’s mother entering politics, with Maximos Mansion signaling from the start that it won’t enter into confrontation with the victims’ relatives of the Tempe tragedy. Meanwhile, it accuses the opposition of instrumentalizing the national trauma and attempting to mislead public opinion about the circumstances under which the railway accident occurred, poisoning public dialogue with toxicity and dividing Greek society. Maximos Mansion’s “line” on the Tempe case is that they treat the victims’ families with absolute respect and bow their heads to their grief, while criticizing opposition parties for their stance and accusing them of trying to transform government officials’ statements and responses against the opposition into statements supposedly against victims’ relatives. The government also denounces attempts to manipulate public opinion through cover-up theories and claims about illegal cargo transport.
“Faced with the unspeakable pain of the Tempe tragedy victims’ relatives, we all continue to bow our heads. Obviously, I cannot comment on scenarios,” said Minister of State Akis Skertsos on Sunday Afternoon, responding to a question about the possibility of Ms. Karystianou forming a political entity, prompted by polls showing high acceptance of such a venture.
Similarly, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his recent ANT1 interview, emphasized regarding developments in the Tempe case that “we all want the trial to begin. Those who demand justice are doing everything they can to prevent the trial from starting,” with government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis clarifying that “the prime minister, like all government and parliamentary officials and collectively those of us who belong to the Government and New Democracy, engage in political confrontation with political parties, not with relatives. There are parties in Parliament, not few unfortunately, very unfortunately, which hypocritically ask for the trial to start quickly, while in reality they invest in perpetuating, delaying a situation.”
