While Zoe Konstantopoulou appears in all polls to be gaining a particularly significant percentage, which even gives her second to third place, her image in Parliament shows the opposite. The independence declaration of Eleni Karageorgopoulou on Tuesday actually came to highlight the poor organizational image of Course of Freedom, as well as the dissatisfaction that exists among Parliamentary Group members on various issues. This is because in reality, Zoe Konstantopoulou’s party relies exclusively on her and no other member of its leadership.
Course of Freedom in crisis: The polling surge, Karageorgopoulou’s independence and the stakes for the next elections
Course of Freedom today has five MPs and is on the verge of losing the rights of a Parliamentary Group if, for some reason, another MP decides to leave. Eleni Karageorgopoulou, who departed, initially tried to keep a low tone and not confront her party president, stating: “This choice does not constitute an act of confrontation, but rather a political differentiation regarding parliamentary direction and the way I exercise my role. I remain in Parliament to serve the people’s mandate with consistency, exercising active and responsible opposition.” A little later, however, on OPEN television station, she left clear hints against Zoe Konstantopoulou, mentioning that she is bothered by expressing less substantiation in her speech, “while trying to create the impression that everything revolves around her when it’s not like that.”
Furthermore, according to what she said on Documento: “There were filters in parliamentary control.” “This, based on the way the president acts, was deemed unacceptable. That’s why I speak of opposition.” And a little later she added: “I have recorded 478 speeches. Of these, I have only 26 Topical Questions, why? I have only one Question with Request for Document Submission, why?” she wondered meaningfully, clarifying that Zoe Konstantopoulou “didn’t want Topical Questions to Mr. Dendias, doesn’t want current affairs” and highlighting the dangerous situation that has developed with the buildings of the EAS Lavrio facilities.
Leadership-centered party
The truth is that Course of Freedom is a purely leadership-centered party, as Zoe Konstantopoulou makes decisions alone on all issues, while it is said that she doesn’t allow Course of Freedom MPs to have presence on television programs. From time to time there have been serious reactions within the Parliamentary Group, which however don’t gain momentum, as Zoe Konstantopoulou leaves nothing to chance.
The question that arises, however, is whether this way of operating will be able to continue in the next Parliament, given that polls show Course of Freedom having a percentage that will give it a large number of MPs, well above the eight it had in the previous elections.
Let us recall that in the 2023 elections, Course of Freedom entered Parliament with 3.17% and eight MPs. The elected were Zoe Konstantopoulou, Spyros Bimbilas, Georgia Kefala, Diamantis Karanastasis, Areti Papaioannou, Michalis Chourdakis, Christos Aridas and Eleni Karageorgopoulou. Initially everyone thought the Parliamentary Group would be cohesive, as Zoe Konstantopoulou had intervened to form her own team in the June elections. However, Zoe Konstantopoulou’s strong personality created the first problems, which resulted in MPs leaving.
Initially, Areti Papaioannou and Michalis Chourdakis opened the exit door, becoming independent. Subsequently, Michalis Chourdakis joined Stefanos Kasselakis’s party, where he remains today. A while ago came the resignation of Diamantis Karanastasis, who was replaced by Elli Roussou. In the next elections, and provided the polls are confirmed, Zoe Konstantopoulou will need to find people she trusts to represent her party in public life, as it would be paradoxical to continue in the same way. Finally, we note that the president of Course of Freedom denies that Eleni Karageorgopoulou had informed her a week ago that she would become independent.
