By Gifts Antoniou

“You will remind me, Ms. Kosioni, between 2004 and 2009, what important initiative was taken in Greek -Turkish? Because I don’t remember any ». This prime minister’s statement in an interview with the SKAI central news release yesterday marks a multilevel change of correlations and balances within the New Democracy. THE Kyriakos Mitsotakis He did not choose a general report to respond to the government’s criticism of the Greek -Turkish handling. He clearly identified the time with which he compared his term of office in the country’s rule. And this time, the period from 2004 to 2009, is the period of governance of Kostas Karamanlis.

Reasonable is the question that this choice immediately raised: Why Kyriakos Mitsotakis He now chooses to clash with the Kostas Karamanlis; The first answer given by the prime ministerial environment, by Mr. Mitsotakis’ associates, is that all this criticism with hints and references to endocular and retreats should stop at some point. But the question remains “Why now?” given that the Kostas Karamanlis It has long made it clear that it has maintained distances and critical views against government manipulations on a number of issues, not only in Greek -Turkish. It takes, of course, at least until now, to maintain such style and wording that while making it clear what and who they are, they are not extreme. Not so much as the statements of the former former Prime Minister, his Antonis Samaraswho saw the Kyriakos Mitsotakis to delete him from the New Democracy.

Its declaration Kostas Karamanlis; “Does the country gradually and subtle fall into an irreversible hostage state towards Turkey”on the occasion that the prime minister raised the question of the 2004-2009 actions, is not current. It was made by the former prime minister on June 17 and then there was no reaction. Which reinforces the belief that the Prime Minister’s response did not come by accident and in a context.

By what criterion does Mr Mitsotakis choose, in a juncture that is not the best possible for the government, to open another front, with the former prime minister and therefore with the so -called “Karamanlika” Party wing and the part of the lineup expressed through it?

His associates states that this is merely an answer to the criticism of the government to be ecclesiastical. “Look, the prime minister told the truth. It presented the reality and the truth, it suits us, it doesn’t suit us, everyone from any point of view, is the only solution to move forward. He did not dispute the patriotism of any of his predecessor » said yesterday the government spokesman, Pavlos Marinakis.

A government official with the knowledge of the correlation of forces, believes that Mr Mitsotakis made this move now because it has become clear that the tolerant stance on the former prime minister’s statements had not resulted in a reduction in the criticism of the government. Thus, Mr. Mitsotakis chooses to move, sending the message that he is moving on to intra -storing opponents alone, without spending in balance and compromise exercises. He expects that this power message will find a response to the electoral base.

The same executive estimates that this is yet another move to redefine the ND relationship. with a more central audience, with more technocratic profile. An audience showing that he is consistently addressed since the beginning of his prime ministerial term.

Possibly, they evaluate observers of developments, the Prime Minister’s move is not independent of the rumor that the Antonis Samaras He will soon go on to create a new political body, with a peak of his criticism, as he has already shown in public intervention, national issues. Mr Mitsotakis is rushing to confine the government.

Everyone, however, discounts that the Prime Minister’s move will not remain unanswered. THE Kostas Karamanlis He has shown that he is not in a hurry in his reactions and that he knows how to wait. The question for many is not whether the former prime minister will react, but when he will react and how acute the tone of his reaction will be.