Antonis Samaras does not intend to repeat the model of the fall of Konstantinos Mitsotakis in the case of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as he does not want to once again be blamed for bringing down a New Democracy government.
After the shock at the Maximos Mansion caused by Antonis Samaras’s successive “rejections” of invitations from New Democracy officials – including from the prime minister himself – the former premier appears determined to subject Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the “torture of the drip.”
Despite provocations urging him to act now and clarify his next political steps, Samaras shows no sign of haste. Unlike Alexis Tsipras, he has no ambition to return to the Maximos Mansion.
Samaras’s strategy is entirely different — he feels no pressure of time.
He is carefully studying his next moves, so that he can announce his possible new party when he deems the conditions to be most favourable.
As his close associates point out, Samaras has two strong advantages over others.
The mechanism at the ready
He is “recognisable,” and crucially, he has his own personal political machine and a network of “sworn loyalists” ready to act at his signal.
He faces no issues of organisational readiness — with a mere nod, his people would mobilise instantly.
At the same time, he does not wish to expose his allies prematurely, knowing that the Maximos mechanisms might target and pressure them to withdraw at the last moment.
For this reason, he will bide his time, allowing political erosion to work in his favour, betting that the government will continue to lose support among conservative voters.
Antonis Samaras firmly believes that his once “minority” positions on several issues — from migration to foreign policy — have now been vindicated and even become dominant, both in Greece and across Europe.
He therefore considers that his political voice, long absent from the public scene, carries more credibility than that of Mitsotakis, who may attempt corrective shifts in his policy but fails to convince the now sceptical conservative base.
His associates stress that Samaras’s goal is not necessarily to lead the first party, but to prevent Mitsotakis from securing an outright majority and thus force him to step down as leader of New Democracy.
A “blue” MP about to resign?
Meanwhile, rumours are multiplying that a “blue” (ND) MP is preparing to step down and relinquish their seat.
What remains unclear is whether this MP belongs to the circle influenced by Antonis Samaras within the parliamentary group of New Democracy.
What is certain, however, is that the former prime minister has no intention of repeating the precedent of bringing down a ND government, as happened with Konstantinos Mitsotakis decades ago. He does not want to be held responsible once again for toppling his own party’s administration.
For that reason, Samaras has made it clear that anyone wishing to follow him in a potential new political project cannot be a sitting MP.
Samaras is also planning his next public appearance — whether through a speech or an interview — as he seeks to balance between buying time and avoiding disappearing completely from the political spotlight.
Visiting Karamanlis
It will also be of great interest whether he ultimately attends the speech of Kostas Karamanlis at the Old Parliament on Wednesday (which now seems increasingly likely). His presence would send a clear message that he is not breaking away from the broader conservative camp — only from Mitsotakis personally and his policies.
A message that will be just as powerful as his absence from Evripidis Stylianidis’s event.
With that absence, the former prime minister made it absolutely clear that he does not intend to keep any communication channel open with Kyriakos Mitsotakis or with what he sees as a “mutated” New Democracy. He has closed the door on the prime minister and his supposed outreach — definitively and irrevocably.
Samaras believes that his appearance in the next elections will act as the true catalyst of the outcome, leading to the collapse of Mitsotakis’s key argument — that only he can serve as the guarantor of political stability.
www.bankingnews.gr
Despite provocations urging him to act now and clarify his next political steps, Samaras shows no sign of haste. Unlike Alexis Tsipras, he has no ambition to return to the Maximos Mansion.
Samaras’s strategy is entirely different — he feels no pressure of time.
He is carefully studying his next moves, so that he can announce his possible new party when he deems the conditions to be most favourable.
As his close associates point out, Samaras has two strong advantages over others.
The mechanism at the ready
He is “recognisable,” and crucially, he has his own personal political machine and a network of “sworn loyalists” ready to act at his signal.
He faces no issues of organisational readiness — with a mere nod, his people would mobilise instantly.
At the same time, he does not wish to expose his allies prematurely, knowing that the Maximos mechanisms might target and pressure them to withdraw at the last moment.
For this reason, he will bide his time, allowing political erosion to work in his favour, betting that the government will continue to lose support among conservative voters.
Antonis Samaras firmly believes that his once “minority” positions on several issues — from migration to foreign policy — have now been vindicated and even become dominant, both in Greece and across Europe.
He therefore considers that his political voice, long absent from the public scene, carries more credibility than that of Mitsotakis, who may attempt corrective shifts in his policy but fails to convince the now sceptical conservative base.
His associates stress that Samaras’s goal is not necessarily to lead the first party, but to prevent Mitsotakis from securing an outright majority and thus force him to step down as leader of New Democracy.
A “blue” MP about to resign?
Meanwhile, rumours are multiplying that a “blue” (ND) MP is preparing to step down and relinquish their seat.
What remains unclear is whether this MP belongs to the circle influenced by Antonis Samaras within the parliamentary group of New Democracy.
What is certain, however, is that the former prime minister has no intention of repeating the precedent of bringing down a ND government, as happened with Konstantinos Mitsotakis decades ago. He does not want to be held responsible once again for toppling his own party’s administration.
For that reason, Samaras has made it clear that anyone wishing to follow him in a potential new political project cannot be a sitting MP.
Samaras is also planning his next public appearance — whether through a speech or an interview — as he seeks to balance between buying time and avoiding disappearing completely from the political spotlight.
Visiting Karamanlis
It will also be of great interest whether he ultimately attends the speech of Kostas Karamanlis at the Old Parliament on Wednesday (which now seems increasingly likely). His presence would send a clear message that he is not breaking away from the broader conservative camp — only from Mitsotakis personally and his policies.
A message that will be just as powerful as his absence from Evripidis Stylianidis’s event.
With that absence, the former prime minister made it absolutely clear that he does not intend to keep any communication channel open with Kyriakos Mitsotakis or with what he sees as a “mutated” New Democracy. He has closed the door on the prime minister and his supposed outreach — definitively and irrevocably.
Samaras believes that his appearance in the next elections will act as the true catalyst of the outcome, leading to the collapse of Mitsotakis’s key argument — that only he can serve as the guarantor of political stability.
www.bankingnews.gr
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