Two new parties in the space of a week isn’t bad going, even in a country where political parties have never been in short supply.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Greece has probably always had more than it knew what to do with.
So, welcome to the new kids on the block.
The two newcomers are very different from one another. Different leaderships, different aims, different points of reference, different thinking…
Only their ambitions seem to match, since both have declared an interest in governing the country.
Of course, no political movement has ever been judged solely on the basis of its ambitions. Even so, they are shifting the landscape in a political system not typically characterized by upheaval.
It will certainly take some time before their influence can be reliably measured. Above all, though, it remains to be seen how (and if…) these new forces will reshape the broader political balance of power.
While some appear less concerned and others more so, I believe any calculations or assessments are highly premature.
After all, I fear we’ve yet to find out the most crucial part: not what these parties are called, but what they actually stand for. And, above all, if they have anything to say which the Greek public will be interested in.
One of them was born out of a tragedy: the Tempi train crash. The other of a disappointment: the demilitantization of the Left. However, to make themselves heard, both will have to articulate more than just their anger and their grievances.
Their first steps do not give us much cause for optimism. It’s been the same old story, more or less, albeit recontextualized.
And in politics, first impressions often dictate what follows.
Besides, no one seems to expect these two new organizations to make an immediate bid for power—notwithstanding their declarations. I suppose there’s still a long road ahead—for them as much as for us.
On the other hand, their arrival will be welcomed, even if all they do is raise the standard of our political discourse.
But to be honest, I’m not optimistic about that either. I suspect that Alexis Tsipras’s trite generalizations and Ms Karistianou’s accusatory fervor are unlikely to give way to more meaningful debate. I don’t even know if that’s what they want.
Though it’s definitely what Greece needs. Because what lies ahead in the run-up to the next elections, with their host of small and medium-sized contenders, looks less like noble competition and more like a vulgar slanging match.
I know—we’ve seen this movie before. But that’s no reason to have to sit through it every time.
