Souls and mold: New Democracy's electoral shift and the path of progress

A recent political narrative suggesting that Greece's New Democracy party lost significant electoral ground – dropping from 41% in the 2023 national elections to 28% in the 2024 European elections – because it "lost its soul" is dismissed as "nonsense" in this commentary. The author contends that the party's impressive 2023 showing was precisely because Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis modernized the party, purging outdated ideologies.

The legalization of same-sex marriage is presented as a bold but necessary step for Greek society, not a departure from the party's core. The piece notes the limited negative reactions, primarily from some politicians and religious figures, contrasting this with the party's historical stances, such as opposing civil marriage in 1982 as a "legalization of adultery and prostitution."

The author draws a historical parallel to the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964, championed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This legislation, enacted during a time when the Democratic Party was shifting from its pro-segregationist roots, is seen as analogous to New Democracy's move on same-sex marriage. Both were significant, progressive steps for their respective societies, despite potential internal party friction or external opposition.

The commentary asserts that the real challenges facing the government are issues like corruption and cronyism, not the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights. It emphasizes that in matters of civil and democratic rights, the number of people affected is less important than the principle of equality. The author argues that societal progress, like the integration of same-sex marriage, reflects a maturing society, much like the eventual acceptance of racial integration in the U.S. was a sign of progress.