The former Deputy Prime Minister of the 2012–2015 government, Evangelos Venizelos, is trying to find a way to re-enter the political scene as a “golden reserve,” apparently foreseeing a potential gap that may emerge in 2027, should New Democracy fail to form an independent government and turn to PASOK for help.
PASOK limits the role he wants to play
In his recent interview with ERT, Mr. Venizelos made it clear that he does not wish to lead PASOK’s national ballot because such a position would restrict his political interventions, while emphasizing that he wishes to intervene for the country from a broad perspective—possibly even a more non-partisan one—once again bringing to the table the role he could play as a politician of common acceptance between New Democracy and PASOK.
The deadlock Venizelos sees without self-criticism
In another part of the interview, referring to the next event of the “Circle of Ideas,” Mr. Venizelos noted: “Polls record a multi-layered deadlock: society does not believe that institutions function properly, it expresses dissatisfaction with the level of democracy, the rule of law, the functioning of justice, parliament, and independent authorities; there is a crisis of political participation and representation; there is no willingness to participate in political life; the role of parties and the political system is not recognized as serious and productive.”
The polls and what the Circle of Ideas has been striving for all these years
It is clear that in his interventions, as well as those of the Circle of Ideas, the notion of cooperation between political forces is especially promoted. Let us recall that since 2020, the polls presented by the Circle of Ideas consistently led to one specific conclusion: that cooperation between New Democracy and PASOK is necessary, with governance by a Prime Minister mutually accepted by both parties. And we are talking about times when Mitsotakis’ popularity was unquestionably high and absolute.
Government officials critical of Venizelos’ statements
Government officials asked to comment on Venizelos’ new intervention believed that he is trying to position himself among the politicians (and non-politicians) who want to play a role in 2027, remaining distant from party affairs but constantly following political developments. In fact, some place in the same category other figures coming from PASOK, such as Anna Diamantopoulou and the current Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras.
It is dangerous for an almost-President of the Republic to speak of an ungovernable country
Other officials who spoke to BN were particularly critical. They emphasized that not long ago, Evangelos Venizelos’ name was being considered for President of the Republic. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a “magical” way, had convinced Nikos Androulakis that he would propose Evangelos Venizelos for President, but in the end, he chose Konstantinos Tasoulas.
“Imagine a President of the Republic saying that the country ‘has become ungovernable,’” one of his critics told me. “That would be extremely dangerous for the head of state, the first citizen of the country, to hold such views,” he explained, adding that he fully agreed with the Prime Minister’s decision not to choose him. “If he holds such opinions, what would he have done as President? Would he call for meetings of political leaders every day?”
Venizelos’ huge responsibility for Article 86
Another political figure who once held office reminded me that Evangelos Venizelos was the main orchestrator and drafter of Article 86 of the Constitution, concerning ministerial responsibility—a law that angered many people due to the impunity it provided to several politicians, the way institutions functioned, and the state of the rule of law. It was the very issue Mr. Venizelos himself raised in his recent interview, though he “forgot” his own responsibilities. It is a law that European Prosecutor Laura Kovesi harshly condemned, describing it in the worst terms and calling for its abolition—something the government has, after all, promised to do in the next constitutional revision.
In conclusion, Mr. Venizelos may be seeking a role for 2027, seeing a potential governance gap, but he himself bears responsibility for today’s deadlock—for the public’s dissatisfaction regarding politicians’ impunity and the state of today’s justice system.
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