“After politics, what next?” This question has emerged in Greece for decades whenever a prime minister or party leader completes their term and is called to step back from active politics, either by choice or due to circumstances. This always cultivates the “myth of return,” a particular political phenomenon described in an interview by academic Vasileios Markezinis, who observed that all former prime ministers expect some kind of return until the end of their lives. In the current situation, this phenomenon is evident, as the public sphere regularly moves under the constellation of former leaders, with New Democracy being disturbed every so often by the suggestive and sometimes sharp, critical interventions of former prime ministers Kostas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras. Similarly, the much younger former prime minister Alexis Tsipras appears to be the one who will also seek, through the establishment of a new political entity, a strong comeback to the political forefront.
Prerequisites
However, political observers distinguish former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and former PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos, who has served as deputy prime minister in three different governments, from the cases of Antonis Samaras and Alexis Tsipras. They estimate that Karamanlis and Venizelos possess characteristics that, under certain conditions, could make them the political figures who, post-election – and in case of no clear majority after successive elections – would constitute the answer to finding a prime minister of common acceptance in a coalition government of limited duration.
Days ago, former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis spoke at the Old Parliament about an institutional crisis, specifically about institutional and political crisis that could even lead to a national crisis. The former prime minister left heavy criticisms about institutional independence, spoke of a “crisis of delegitimization,” about a rupture with society, to conclude with a warning about the danger of a “major political crisis.” With careful word choice and without personalizing his references, Mr. Karamanlis’s contested statements were interpreted as criticisms toward the current government.
A day later, in an interview, former PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos expressed the view that “our big problem is that the country has become ungovernable”. Mr. Venizelos blamed the government for the absence of political consensus on national issues and assessed the current situation as a period of deep reorganization of the international system, where “institutions are not functioning and there is no longer a common protocol”.
“Prophecy”
The prime minister picked up the gauntlet on Friday from Peristeri, meaningfully noting that “questioning confidence in Justice in this toxic environment can become a self-fulfilling prophecy in citizens’ minds”. On the same wavelength, in response to Mr. Venizelos, Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis observed that “Greece is perhaps the most governable country in the Western camp or at least among the few that are absolutely governable”, focusing on the need for political stability.
Who are in the “frame” of “prime ministerial candidates”
According to certain circles, former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, who is inextricably linked to the DNA of the major center-right party, and former PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, meet the prerequisites for assuming the prime ministership in case of failure to form a government, as reserves for post-election discussions of a scenario type, as political figures of common acceptance. Both are assessed as prime ministerial by political analysts, with the characteristics of knowledge and experience they have gained from the “inner sanctums of power” considered to potentially make them choices in such a potential coalition government of limited duration.
The “ace” Stournaras
In this direction, their institutional interventions are evaluated, as former leaders have gained the freedom to make interventions, analyzing and commenting on critical issues, while simultaneously admonishing citizens and politicians when they deem necessary, giving their “presence” to political life through their positions. Moreover, Evangelos Venizelos in his recent interview distanced himself from scenarios circulating that he would lead PASOK’s State ballot, assuring that everything he has said about his transition to “post-politics” stands. “No one can think that I would accept a reduction of my ability to intervene trying to help the country, with a broad perspective,” emphasized the former PASOK president.
Another figure who could enter the frame of prime ministerial candidates is Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras. The reasons that, according to analysts, make his profile suitable for this specific role, differ entirely from the cases of Karamanlis and Venizelos and focus on the vast experience he possesses in managing economic issues, as well as on elements of his decisiveness and activity. He left his mark on the national economy as Finance Minister during 2012-2014.
