Former deputy prime minister and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos sharply criticized Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a speech at the ongoing PASOK party congress Saturday, accusing the New Democracy government of overseeing a “generalized crisis” in Greece’s democratic institutions and the rule of law.
From the conference podium, Venizelos targeted Mitsotakis’ leadership, describing it as “centralized and personalistic,” characterized by deliberate polarization and tension rather than consensus and cooperation with opposition parties. “He does this for self-protection due to the accumulation of scandals that could at any moment take explosive dimensions,” Venizelos said.
Venizelos outlined what he called the failures of Mitsotakis’ seven-year tenure, citing the wiretapping scandal, the Tempe railway disaster and the controversial handling of government accountability, the OPEKEPE farm subsidies scandal, and a widespread perception of corruption and lack of transparency.
He also criticized the government for its inability to manage routine natural events, missed opportunities to restructure Greece’s economy despite a surge in European funds, rising inequalities, and pervasive subjective poverty affecting 67% of citizens. “Greece lags behind in all European rankings with no prospect of catching up in the coming years,” he said.
Venizelos concluded by urging PASOK to secure its political and programmatic autonomy and aim for electoral victory, calling the party a “party of responsibility and power” that must address all Greek citizens directly, beyond past electoral choices. “This must be accompanied by unity, seriousness, and weight – both of personalities and positions,” he said.
PASOK’s congress wraps up Sunday.