On July 7, 2019, New Democracy won the national elections with 39.85% and formed a single-party government with Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Prime Minister. A few days later, the first bill brought to Parliament was the so-called “executive state,” described by Maximos Mansion as “an institutional reform for the Greek state and foundation for Greece’s next day.” Law 4622/2019 (“Executive State: organization, operation and transparency of government, governmental bodies and central public administration”) established rules for the operation of Maximos Mansion and ministries, changed the organization and function of the Prime Minister’s office and government, and improved coordination and oversight of governmental work.
About seven years later, the executive state would find itself at the center of criticism from five New Democracy MPs. Yannis Oikonomou (Phthiotida), Andreas Katsaniotis (Achaia), Xenophon Baraliakas (Pieria), Yannis Pappas (Dodecanese), and Thanasis Zebilis (Evia), in an open letter published in “Ta Nea” newspaper, called for “a new governance model that will bring decision-making centers closer to civil society,” while some personalized their criticism toward State Minister Akis Skertsos. Maximos Mansion reportedly felt annoyed both by the timing and manner chosen to express this opposition, though this displeasure would not be expressed either privately to the MPs in question or publicly.
New Democracy: The reasons behind the “rebellion” of the “5” against the executive state
According to sources familiar with the “blue” behind-the-scenes dynamics, the executive state was more the pretext and less the cause of this sudden mini “rebellion,” which they chose not to escalate. According to information, about 10 to 15 MPs subsequently approached them in private conversations, saying they could have also signed this article, bringing the total number of MPs with similar approaches to around 20. This does not mean, however, that there is any kind of grouping or any form of intra-party opposition.
There is, however, dissatisfaction that will be expressed at Thursday’s New Democracy Parliamentary Group meeting, and possibly at the party’s Regular Convention in Athens on May 15-17. Where does this dissatisfaction stem from? Certainly less from the executive state and more from other causes. First, from the treatment of MPs whose names were included in the second and third OPEKEPE case files. The lifting of immunity for all 13 MPs annoyed several New Democracy MPs, who believe that many of their thirteen colleagues have not committed any crime and that a usual practice of an MP, particularly from the regions, was suddenly demonized.
During the same period, the same MP circles negatively commented on Skertsos’s Holy Tuesday post, which spoke of “clients of the state and political system” and “transactional clientelist relationships, the ‘give and take’ between voters and political personnel,” although the same post noted that these are chronic problems of the Greek state. MPs from outside Attica – who are usually elected in low-seat regions and have greater anxiety about re-election – do not view favorably the current composition of the Cabinet: First, regarding the fact that 40% of its members (9 out of 22 ministers) are non-parliamentary and, second, that of the remaining 13, 12 are elected in some Attica electoral district and only one in the regions.
As they see New Democracy’s percentages moving in the 28%-29% range in voting intention, they worry even more about their election in the next polls. The discussion that has begun about changing the electoral law with a reduction in MPs elected by cross preference has caused additional unrest within the New Democracy Parliamentary Group.
At Maximos Mansion there reportedly was annoyance both about the timing and the manner chosen to express this opposition, something that, however, will not be expressed either privately – to the MPs in question, that is – or publicly
Mitsotakis’s “opening” to defuse the crisis
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who wants the party convention to send a unifying and hopeful message in any case, personally undertook to handle the issue from the moment it arose, and in the foreground, not behind the scenes. The planning has at its core the approach to MPs, reconciliation of passions, and forging unity by every means.
A few hours after the controversial letter’s publication, the Prime Minister defended the executive state, without targeting or accusing the five MPs. “We received 36 billion euros from the Recovery Fund, which we are currently utilizing for the benefit of Greek citizens. And if anyone believes this money could have been spent or invested without an executive state, without tight coordination, let them come tell me. Because I can tell you with certainty that it could not have been done otherwise,” he said at the beginning of his remarks at the New Democracy pre-convention at Zappeion. “Those who insist on finding dividing lines between so-called technocrats who are appointed and politicians who are elected do not understand that we, as New Democracy, note, are one team,” he said in closing his intervention.
The next day, at the Cabinet meeting, Kyriakos Mitsotakis continued the “opening” toward dissatisfied MPs, which, according to information, had a positive impact on them too. Speaking about the new Special Secretariat for Mountainous Areas and the Island Committee, he characteristically mentioned: “I think this is also an answer to how we understand upgrading the role of each region’s elected representative. This is exactly where we want MP participation: in how they can fight for their area’s development and progress.” His Thursday speech is expected to move along similar lines.
Published in Parapolitika
