By Yannis Anifantis

The PASOK in a position of official opposition. Nine parliamentary groups plus one potentially. 24 independent MPs. In this explosive parliamentary scene, a result of the rapid changes of the last months, the government and the opposition will be invited to coexist from today for five days during the debate on the state budget for 2025 which starts at 11.00 in the Plenary.

The landscape compared to 2023 is completely different, with the New Democracy and PASOK duopoly reviving after 15 years and the Nikos Androulakis to assume the duties of leader of the official opposition, for the first time since 2008, when Giorgos Papandreou was in the corresponding position. The stakes for Harilaou Trikoupis are high, with PASOK being asked to prove that it can respond to the increased challenges of the second party in parliamentary power, after the dethronement of SYRIZA, for the first time since 2012.

The reduction of Koumoundourou’s parliamentary strength within a year is indicative of the tragic developments in the party, with SYRIZA losing 10 MPs and the parliamentary group now counting 26 members. Rania Thraskia recently “abandoned the ship” just twenty-four hours ago, avoiding to reveal whether she intends to join another party. Sokratis Famellos will again be on the podium as head of the parliamentary group, with the distinction that this year he is the elected president of the party.

In this highly fluid political environment, the government will attempt to demonstrate that New Democracy is the only serious governing force, far from experiments. In fact, he is expected to present the new year’s budget which, according to the parliamentary majority, shows that the government manages to effectively balance fiscal responsibility with economic growth.

The five-day process

The debate, according to the planning, will start today at 11 am and will culminate with the vote on the state budget on Sunday night, which, as usual, takes the form of a vote of confidence in the government. The aim is to take place at 21.00. However, the opposition parties are also expected to vote against the budget this year as according to their positions in the relevant committee of the Parliament, only Niki and Spartans expressed reservations. PASOK-Movement for Change voted “against”, except for defense spending.

The round of discussion will open with the general rapporteurs of the parties, followed by the Minister of Finance with the answers of the parliamentary representatives, while after the start of the list of speakers, the position of a Minister may be inserted every hour. The political leaders are expected to speak on Sunday, after 1:00 p.m., in reverse order of parliamentary strength. The debate will be closed by the prime minister, with the intervention of Kostis Hatzidakis intervening between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikos Androulakis.