By Antonis Anzoletou

On Friday, the bill for the establishment of non-state universities will be voted on in the Houseor political upheavals are expected to be comparable to those caused by the regulation of same-sex couples. Marriage equality caused an “earthquake” in the “right-wing apartment building” with Kyriakos Velopoulos putting a lot of pressure on Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It is no coincidence that in the last opinion polls the Greek Solution appeared in some even with a double-digit percentage, more than doubling the result of the summer. (4.44%).

The higher institutions bill touches more center and centre-left space against the background of the constitutional review and changes to Article 16 that will take place after the national elections. The thermometer between New Democracy and PASOK has risen to the red, as the majority characterizes the party of Nikos Androulakis as “green SYRIZA” for the “turn” he made by voting against the bill. It is an ideological-political battle that has been going on for many years, causing many reactions in the student and university community. The same will happen now against the background of the European elections.

PASOK’s move to oppose the government has strong political characteristics. Since Harilaou Trikoupi has consolidated in the second position in the opinion polls by eliminating SYRIZA, such an emblematic bill could not be drafted with the majority. Nikos Androulakis wants to show what the potential official opposition is like and therefore does not want to leave much room for SYRIZA to “play ball alone” in the Plenary.

They are trying to overcome the disagreements that existed in the “green camp” and were also recorded in yesterday’s parliamentary group. Now in PASOK, among others, they have cast their “nets” on a more left-wing audience that seems to be turning its back on Koumoundourou. There is, after all, the world that follows George Papandreou and believes that the changes in HEIs should proceed after first revising article 16. It is an issue, however, on which PASOK voters appear to be divided anyway.

It cannot be overlooked that the majority, according to Pulse, say “yes” to non-state universities. And this element in itself causes further “murmur” and turbulence.

In general, the government is blamed for a lack of dialogue on this issue. SYRIZA, maintaining its fixed positions – despite some minor disagreements when the conversation first opened – declares its absolute opposition to the bill. In other words, he will not need Stefanos Kasselakis to impose party discipline this time. Both the KKE and the New Left voted against the Parliamentary Committee.

The debate in the Plenary is expected to take place in high tones with the majority arguing and insisting that important institutions will show interest in coming to Greece at a time when there is private higher education in the country. The smaller parties will also fight in the Parliament for this particular bill, knowing that the loose vote of the European elections may favor them.