By Antonis Anzoletou

The summer season in the major tourist destinations, due to the increased temperature, lasts until the end of October. Putting everything that happened from May onwards into a single period, it would not be an exaggeration to read that the events of the last few months make up one of the strangest and most unexpected political summers of the post-colonial era. It all started with the polls that were set up almost four months ago with the simple proportional system. With the exception of the turbulent 1989, it was the first time that Greek citizens, due to simple proportionality, went to the polls knowing that they would be called to vote again in a month. The result brought the first initial “earthquake”. THE New Democracy she came out of the surveillance case and the tragic accident in Tempe reborn. In the absence of an opponent in the center-left and a credible government proposal from the opposition, Kyriakos Mitsotakis emerged strengthened, changing the political scene. Since the May elections, a great vacuum has been created in the center-left with SYRIZA and PASOK competing for who will dominate the space.

In May, Kyriakos Mitsotakis strengthened (40.79%), o SYRIZA crushed (20.07%) and PASOK (11.46%) gained strength as did the KKE (7.23%). The big news of the summer was the fact that, for the first time since the coup, the main opposition managed to significantly reduce its forces and essentially give unlimited space to the government. The simple analogy “burned” SYRIZA not only because the scenario of cooperation with PASOK never worked, but because of the fact that in the second ballots its forces shrank further. The liquidation of the political environment cannot be disputed at a time when the world seems once again after the financial crisis to turn its gaze away from political forces in search of something new.

How is this proven? From the internal party elections of SYRIZA. Few could have predicted last spring that Alexis Tsipras would not be at the “helm” of the party today. And despite the fact that Efi Ahtsioglou appeared as his sure and indisputable successor, an unknown person came to change everything. Within a month o Stefanos Kasselakis he “defeated” a party that has won two electoral battles and has twice been in the position of official opposition. Everyone would expect him to have some defense mechanisms. The search for the new, the disgust with the political system and the introversion emitted by the old cadres led its members to demand a change. No one can be sure of the next day in the official opposition, and Stefanos Kasselakis showed in the recent municipal elections that he does not have the momentum that usually follows a new leader. Oxymoron and this since he managed to mobilize so many people to vote for him and register as members of SYRIZA.

The last polls of the municipal and regional elections sent a new final message to the political forces and closed a very difficult summer. Changes and developments are foreshadowed. Nothing should be taken for granted by voters. They can either disapprove or stay away if something bothers them. And they proved it. And they will continue to show it if they are not satisfied. When more than seven out of ten do not vote in the capital, politicians must not turn their backs on the phenomenon. New Democracy won in the first round, only to lose a week later in the second round. The certainty of first place was punished even at the level of local societies. The dipoles change and very large reversals can be made. The biggest example was the municipality of Athens. Haris Doukas covered a difference of 27 points and beat Kostas Bakoyannis who was the undisputed favorite. It is something that has never happened before and is also a sign of who has the power in their hands. The need to create new social norms becomes more imperative. At least a few days ago the citizens watched a normal pre-election debate between the two gladiators for the municipality of Athens. Both moderates keep up with the new data.

In the new landscape, the majority for the first time does not have a strong opponent to control it, to judge it and to threaten it that it may fall from the privileged position given to it by the Constitution. Thessaly, however, proved that state indifference cannot go unpunished. The partnership between SYRIZA and PASOK worked and led to yet another upheaval. It will not go beyond the self-governing level. Both are now fighting for hegemony in the space and the final step is the European elections. The summer ended leaving behind ambiguous messages. New Democracy is the undisputed dominant force of the political system and managed to lose in the two largest municipalities of the country, which are strongholds of the middle ground. SYRIZA is the official opposition and won with its own forces only in Chalandri, Keratsini-Drapetsona and Zografou, far behind PASOK and KKE who left a self-governing imprint. What will happen from now on? It is possible that new formations will be born in view of the European elections and well-known executives may leave their parties or move.