Greek politics: Funeral draws leaders as old guard re-emerges and foreign policy focus sharpens

The funeral of Nikos Tagaras, a former Deputy Minister of Environment, drew a significant gathering of political figures, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and numerous government officials, alongside representatives from all major parties. Tagaras, who served as Deputy Minister of Environment from 2020 until his death and previously held the role of Alternate Minister of Environment in 2012-2014, was laid to rest in his hometown of Chiliomodi, Corinthia.

The political sphere is witnessing a resurgence of figures from the 2015 era following Alexis Tsipras's formation of a new party. Yanis Varoufakis has re-emerged, expressing agreement with Tsipras and Maria Karystianou's statements but questioning their commitment to implementation. Varoufakis recalled his past trust in Tsipras, noting that the new party is not a novel creation but stems from a former prime minister who previously agreed to long-term public asset concessions. He suggested Tsipras should address the policies he imposed, positioning himself for a role on the "far left" of parliament, though the existence of a relevant electorate remains a question.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is focusing on Greece's engagement in the Middle East, a priority since the October 7, 2023 attacks. He is scheduled to host Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, who has Messinian roots. The meeting aims to address cooperation between Greece and the Patriarchate, focusing on how Athens can support the preservation of its Greek Orthodox identity through various initiatives in Jerusalem and its jurisdiction. Unofficially, Athens seeks better coordination with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as external influences, particularly from Russia, pose a challenge to effective Greek efforts in the region.

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I believed Tsipras and we went along together. But his party did not come from a virgin birth. He is a former prime minister who decided that he had to mortgage public property for 99 years and put his signature on it. Shouldn't he talk about what he imposed on us?