By Antonis Anzoletou

2023 was a catalyst and reshaped the political map. Nothing is the same anymore and the parliamentary forces – and not only – enter 2024 with completely new data and goals. New Democracy after the ten-year financial crisis, it has emerged as the ruler of the political game and shows after the double ballots of the summer that it is “invulnerable”. The parties contested from 2009 to 2019 living days of obsolescence. Stability is what wins after a period of constant turmoil. Proof is the fact that the pandemic and the climate crisis, the precision, the wars in our neighborhood and even the rise in crime and violence in the stadiums have not affected the hegemony of the blue faction.

How can democracy function without a strong opposition? This is the big question for the new year. The ruling faction had never “spoiled” the other parties, especially the official opposition, after the coup. New Democracy and PASOK alternated in power, however the latter was always strong and returned to first place after a period of time. This rotation has been taking place continuously since 1977. O SYRIZA in the last polls he showed that he failed to create strong ties with society, while at the same time he was trapped in the simple proportional system he voted for in 2016. If he had not proceeded to change the electoral system, possibly with the 20.07% in May, the developments in Koumoundourou would have not so fast. Alexis Tsipras was also charged with the fact that he invested in an allied government with SYRIZA at the core without having any evidence that such a thing is possible. Now SYRIZA is under pressure from the New Left and the KKE, while both Pleussi Eleftherias and MeRA225 continue their course without losses.

The hegemony of the New Democracy is not disputed by the fact that the PASOK, despite the decline of SYRIZA, has anemic opinion polls that have brought it to second place. To the point that in Koumoundourou they believe that the situation can be reversed within the year that has just begun. The majority in the latest surveys done just before the close of 2023 had a margin of safety from the runner-up of around 25 points. Under these conditions, none of the parties can convince the electorate that they can threaten their lead in the European elections. Perhaps it is the first time that the polls for the “21” who will get the tickets for Brussels and Strasbourg acquire such great political importance. On the one hand, the maintenance of the large difference will be the “harbinger” for Kyriakos Mitsotakis that he can claim a third consecutive government term (no one has managed to do so post-politically). On the other hand, the new center-left leader is being sought to coordinate a progressive organization. It is not excluded that the traditionally “relaxed” character of this particular ballot box will send some messages to Herodos Attikou as well.

What is required for the political system is to open a pre-election debate in 2024 that focuses on European integration, the future of the old continent and of course a positive dialogue within the country that promotes social justice and cohesion. Only in this case will thinking disappointed voters who consciously abstained all the previous time come to the polls. Voting by letter is also a positive initiative that will contribute to the reduction of abstention.