PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis looks on as PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis speaks in Parliament during a debate in Parliament.
Thursday’s debate in Parliament was not like the usual scrimmages, where we’re left with little to remember other than a few sharp sound bites. It was deeply political and clearly strategic, effectively raising the curtain on what promises to be a very long pre-election period, where every clash will be evaluated not just in terms of current developments, but also in terms of its potential impact at the ballot box.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chose to position PASOK’s Nikos Androulakis as his primary rival. It was a strategic choice, as the government’s inner circle knows that SYRIZA is basically finished and Alexis Tsipras, who is responsible for pulling the party apart, has yet to make an official appearance. In any case, Mitsotakis has defeated Tsipras so many times in the past that he is seen as a manageable adversary, while Tsipras’ new party – if it’s ever launched – is not expected to make it to double digits. Hence the focus on PASOK as the only serious contender right now.
PASOK’s president, for his part, wants to capitalize on the vacuum in the opposition – albeit with limited success, despite efforts to improve his image. He is investing in unpopular issues such as institutions, transparency and accountability, believing they will allow him to put pressure on the government while simultaneously showing himself as a serious, institutional alternative. He wants to represent voters looking for a change in policy direction without returning to the adventures of the previous decade, yet he often loses his way in generalities.
Tsipras – though no longer an MP – seems to be following a similar strategy by attempting to rewrite the history of his time in government with an inexplicable persistence that does him more harm than good. Androulakis is, nevertheless, well aware of the dangers of a comeback by the former prime minister, which is why he is fighting a battle on two fronts. The first is against Mitsotakis, where he aims to convince voters that he is a credible alternative, and the second is against Tsipras, where he is fighting to maintain second place and establish political hegemony within the center-left. The latter may be the more difficult contest, as it targets the same audience, draws from the same voter pools and addresses the same demand for representation of the anti-right-wing vote.
Either way, Thursday’s crossing of swords in Parliament was a lot more significant than what the occasional intensity of the discussion suggested. It offered a glimpse into the future regarding who can govern and how, while simultaneously drawing the battle lines for the period ahead.