Greece's ruling party faces internal calls for caution amid new political entrants

Greece's political landscape is shifting with the emergence of two new parties, prompting the ruling New Democracy (ND) party to devise strategies for their "deconstruction." Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has publicly dismissed these new entrants, stating their primary message is simply the government's downfall, which he argues is not a viable political alternative. However, ND's approach appears to differ in intensity and focus when targeting Alexis Tsipras's Hellenic Left Symbiosis and Maria Karystianou's Hope for Democracy, likely due to Tsipras being a long-standing rival, while Karystianou is seen as a less predictable factor.

Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras remains outside the immediate fray of caustic commentary from the premier's office, though his potential political moves are a hot topic within ND circles. Samaras is preparing a new intervention from Crete on June 5, and speculation suggests any party he might form could emerge closer to an election, potentially reshaping the right-wing spectrum.

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We must also... avoid expressions and actions of arrogance. The public will no longer forgive complacency.

ND strategists at Maximos Mansion aim to consistently draw comparisons with their opponents, focusing on programmatic differences, particularly with PASOK and Hellenic Left Symbiosis, and on consistency between words and actions. They believe the competition among opposition parties, especially between Nikos Androulakis and Alexis Tsipras, will reinforce ND's message of "certainty" and having a "plan for the day after," appealing to more moderate voters.

Despite this outward confidence, whispers of concern are surfacing within ND. Some members of the parliamentary group are calling for "caution" and "self-restraint" amidst these political developments, especially given the current climate of citizen distrust and government fatigue. "We must also... avoid expressions and actions of arrogance. The public will no longer forgive complacency," one ND MP commented, suggesting that the party should not give the impression of choosing between rivals. Another MP agreed, acknowledging that while polarization can rally the party base, "underestimation is a big trap; what matters first is to be convincing about our own vision."

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Underestimation is a big trap; what matters first is to be convincing about our own vision.