The internal situation has reached a point where it can no longer be contained.
When even the Prime Minister calls out his ministers and others on the air, one can easily grasp the dissolving state inside ND, with everyone pitted against everyone and Kyriakos Mitsotakis caught in the middle playing referee while stating the obvious.
Namely, that he is the one who evaluates his ministers, along with the people.
Of course, through this move, he bears the burden himself as long as he keeps in government those whose behavior exposes ND, despite taking jabs at them in a live broadcast in an attempt to halt the debate intensifying daily through various public statements.
Endless infighting
The statement of the Prime Minister at the Cabinet meeting was not accidental.
At a time when public interventions by blue officials succeed one another and the discussion about arrogance has assumed the proportions of an internal party debate, Kyriakos Mitsotakis wanted to make it clear who has the final say.
«We will all be judged by the citizens, but until then it is my responsibility to evaluate the conduct of ministers and MPs», the Prime Minister stated.
The role of Dora
This remark came a few days after the intervention by Dora Bakoyannis, who spoke about ministers who have «mounted the high horse», arguing that certain government officials have grown arrogant and have fatigued people with their conduct.
Without naming her, Kyriakos Mitsotakis essentially delivered his own message: the evaluation of ministers will not take place via television panels, public statements, or internal party interventions, but by the Prime Minister himself.
The barbed comment continued
Since officials at the Maximos Mansion know that the issue lies not only in what is said but also in how it is said, the Prime Minister gave ministers explicit guidance on the tone of their public presence.
«Public discourse must be serious», he stressed, asking government officials to ensure their speech is «measured, unified, and precise».
The word «unified» carries its own significance.
This is because public interventions by ministers and MPs have multiplied recently, marked by differing approaches, personal opinions, and, in certain cases, direct barbs regarding the functioning of the government.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis clearly does not want each minister operating as an autonomous political center.
For this reason, he demanded something even more specific: when government officials appear in the media, they must not confine themselves exclusively to their own portfolios, but must defend the totality of the government work.
In plain words, fewer personal agendas and more of a unified government line.
«An open secret»
The interesting element is that the discussion regarding arrogance was not limited to Dora Bakoyannis.
Kostas Bakoyannis, speaking on Action24, followed up on the conversation by remarking pointedly: «The whole world knows it openly, and we treat it as a secret source of pride».
The former Mayor of Athens noted that arrogance is frequently linked to the exercise of power and underscored that those who exercise or have exercised power must be «twice and three times as careful».
Kalogeropoulos also struck
ND MP Dimitris Kalogeropoulos took an even harsher stance, declaring that it should not be just Dora Bakoyannis calling these things out, but «all of us».
The most striking point of his intervention was his reference to those who «became notable figures out of nowhere».
He also introduced a broader political dimension, arguing that ND cannot be seen as an elite party and that government officials must maintain contact with society.
Kairidis: «They can be counted on one hand»
ND Parliamentary Spokesperson Dimitris Kairidis adopted a similar tone in previous days.
Dimitris Kairidis acknowledged that instances of arrogance exist both within the government and within the Parliamentary Group, pointing out that those who have «mounted the high horse» are few and «can be counted on the fingers of two hands».
Simultaneously, he highlighted an issue that appears to preoccupy several MPs: the distance that exists in certain cases between the government and the Parliamentary Group.
According to what he stated, the complaints concern, among other things, the lack of responsiveness from ministers, at a time when MPs are called upon daily to manage pressure from citizens across their constituencies.
Barbs also from Stylianidis
Bombshell remarks were also dropped by Evripidis Stylianidis (Action24), who pointed out that he too has unfortunately observed isolated instances of arrogance.
He also spoke about thorns in state agencies and noted that Dora Bakoyannis was right to highlight them, stressing that such phenomena must be isolated.
However, he added, this is not a generalized phenomenon.
He stated that some individuals exhibit an attitude that bears no relation to the political faction founded by Konstantinos Karamanlis, which respects ordinary citizens.
He also recalled that the measures concerning the 120 installments and credit servicing companies were originally proposed by 11 ND MPs in a formal parliamentary question they had submitted.
It should be recalled that back then they faced attacks for creating problems for the government, being labeled as «rebels».
In parallel, he raised the point that rules must be imposed on the banking system, since politics currently fails to set the rules.
The message from Maximos Mansion
Thus, within a few days, the word «arrogance» became one of the most debated topics inside ND.
Dora Bakoyannis opened the subject. Kostas Bakoyannis brought it back.
Dimitris Kalogeropoulos sharpened it further.
Dimitris Kairidis acknowledged the phenomenon exists.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis did not enter into the process of naming those who are arrogant.
Yet he did something more institutional and politically explicit: he reiterated that evaluating ministers and MPs is his sole responsibility.
A problem with the party line as well
The message to ministers was therefore twofold. To be careful with their conduct and public statements, but concurrently to operate along a unified government line.
Because, as it appears, the problem at the Maximos Mansion is not merely what each minister says.
It is also how the overall image of the government reaches society.
And the government image is reminiscent of the Titanic just before striking the iceberg!
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών