By Penelope Galliou

Today’s meeting at the event of the “Constantinos Karamanlis” Institute is expected to be particularly symbolic for the internal party situation in the ND but also for the messages that the leading trinity of the blue faction, Messrs. Mitsotakis, Samaras and Karamanlis, will choose to send. An international scientific conference organized by the Foundation on the theme “1974-2024: 50 years since the transition to Democracy – Democracy in our time”.

The embarrassment of the previous days, especially in his relationships Kyriakou Mitsotakis and Antonis Samaras, on the occasion of the former prime minister’s new intervention in Greek-Turkish affairs, but also the “distance” created after the two former prime ministers and the current one, after the European elections, led many to think that Mr. Mitsotakis could stay away from today’s event. But something that he did not choose and he will eventually attend, after the personal phone call made to him – according to information – by the president of the Foundation and brother of the founder of ND, Achilleas Karamanlis, while his predecessors will do the same.

A gathering that will magnetize the interest of those present as well as the friends of the ND, as it is expected to capture “on camera” the climate in the leading echelons of the party. At Megaros Maximos they estimate that the discussion of ND internal parties is not of interest to its voters but also to those who follow its politics, since what the citizens expect is work and efficiency. “The ND has the most compact parliamentary group it has ever had, especially for a second four-year government” argued the government representative, Pavlos Marinakis, speaking to SKAI. He repeated his permanent position Megaros Maximos that “obviously there are other opinions and they will continue to exist and be heard”, although in Herodos of Atticus they separate his attitude and his objections Antonis Samarasfrom those of Kostas Karamanlis.

Today’s meeting of the three leaders of the ND, under the roof of the Karamanlis Foundation, will be the first after a long period, which was characterized by differences in opinions and in some of the policies pursued by the current government, while new ones may also follow meetings. Tomorrow evening (November 1, 7:30 p.m.) Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Samaras have been invited to the opening of the “House of the Elytis” in Plaka, while on Saturday all three leaders of the ND have been invited to the event for the 50th anniversary of ONNED in Athens Conservatory.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in fact, will also be a speaker at the said event, while Messrs. Karamanlis and Samaras have not answered whether they will attend. Besides, the two former prime ministers had not even attended the street party organized by the ND in Rigillis for the 50 years of the faction, maximizing their distance from the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government, causing a new round of introversion in her party Piraeus.

Beyond the field of symbolism and impressions, an intra-party political “crash test” for the ND and the government is expected to be – as is customary for any government – ​​the passing of the budget. And it can be considered more than certain that no negative vote is expected from the seats of the ND, however, particular interest is gathered by the attitude they will take and the criticism they may make of the government policy, MPs of the party who already since the European elections June onwards have raised a number of issues for which they are requesting resolution or policy change. Regarding the climate rumored for the attitude of Antonis Samaras, government sources deny it, recalling that he is “a former prime minister, former president of the faction, he supports the government and the ND despite any debate that may be created” and underline that the ND, despite whatever issues are raised individually, is more united than ever.

Regarding the attitude of Kostas Karamanlis, his intentions towards the government are expected to be reflected more clearly, within the next period as he has scheduled speeches at events in Thessaloniki, Patras and Karpathos, where it is possible that he will clarify or redefine the his attitude towards Megaros Maximos.