My life is shared between France and Greece, so I make comparisons about practically everything. I feel at home in Paris and Athens. For me as a political scientist the recent legislative election in Greece provides the perfect opportunity to draw new and intriguing comparisons, beyond clichés and stereotypes. What transpired in Greece a few days ago shows how electoral behaviour in this country has changed since the 2019 legislative elections.
On June 13, 1971, a new leader was elected in the French Socialist Party’s conference in Épinay sur Seine, near Paris. Francois Mitterrand spent the next ten years forging a solid electoral alliance among diverse left-wing parties. It often appeared to be a mission impossible. Particularly due to the struggle for dominance on the French Left between the socialists and the communists. Finally, Mitterrand was elected President in 1981 and dominated French politics for over 15 years.
What I witnessed on Sunday May 21 in Greece appears familiar. Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras attempted the same thing. He proposed a coalition government with several left-wing parties such as the social-democratic Panhellenic Socialist Movement known as PASOK, the traditional Communist Party of Greece KKE (Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας), and the new post-crisis progressive left, MeRA25 (ΜέΡΑ25). This was fascinating both ideologically and electorally.
After all, for a long time, all left-wing parties represented a greater proportion of votes than right-wing parties in Greece. In theory a large coalition for a left-wing government appeared an obvious goal and not that difficult, one way or another. Though it was far more difficult.
Attempting to form an electoral alliance requires significant amounts of time and energy. Above all, it requires everyone’s willingness and desire to work together. So, before the Greek elections, I expected to see joint meetings of Greek left-wing political parties. Finally, nothing happened. There was no real discussion between their leaders, who were each protecting their respective political parties. This is not surprising.
First, Greece has a lengthy record of one-party rule, strong leaders at the helm, simultaneously combining two distinct functions. On the one hand, the leader of a major political party, and on the other, as prime minister. Unlike several European countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Belgium, which have had coalition governments for a long time, in Greece that does not occur frequently. Coalition governments, on the contrary, are not well-regarded in the Hellenic Republic. They are seen as weak and thus unable to make tough decisions when necessary.
Second, the strong personalities and ambitions of the leaders of the left-wing parties is at the core. Especially in the case of PASOK, a political party with extensive governmental experience, dominating Greek politics for the 1980s to the mid 2000s. PASOK was put in a difficult position when Alexis Tsipras’ SYRIZA succeeded in swaying voters to become Prime Minister in 2015.
As a result, for PASOK, the May 21 Greek legislative, elections became a battle for survival and a desire to reclaim leadership of the Greek Left and left no room for a coalition. The same for the communist KKE and former Syriza finance minister, Yianis Varoufakis’ MeRA25 (Greek: ΜέΡΑ25), both of which are forging their own paths inside the Greek political party structure.
Finally, New Democracy was unquestionably victorious in Greece’s legislative elections on May 21st. Obtaining 40.79 percent, which is higher than the 39.85 percent achieved in 2019. Simply put, this indicates voter approval of the previous government mandate.
This is now history. Greece is rushing to have new elections. Putting in place not just the new ND governing majority of 151 MPs out of 300, but a larger majority which to modify the constitution. In this case, the number of 180 members of parliament s is critical.
Simultaneously, the new fight between the Greek left parties is interesting, not only in the short term, but also in the medium term. After all, in politics, whether in France or Greece, one thing is certain. Nothing should be taken for granted. Because everything can change from one minute to the next.
Dr George Tassiopoulos is a Greek French political scientist, with a doctorate in political science from the University of East Paris. He was born in Athens, and has lived in France for the past 20 years where he teaches geopolitics in a business school in Paris.