On Wednesday, the confrontation in Parliament Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the Alexis Tsipras They were furious about the €100 fine for people in their 60s. So no one paid any attention to an interesting intervention by the Speaker of the House, Kostas Tasoulas.
He addressed the president of Greek Solution, when he protested that Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Alexis Tsipras were given the right to respond, even though he himself had requested the floor. Kostas Tasoulas said: «Mr. Velopoulos, you should know that we have you on the spot here. You talk more every day than anyone else, and you have no right to complain. We've got you on the spot! You talk more than the Prime Minister.
He added that «sometimes you have to appreciate this behavior.» A few minutes later, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis began his speech, almost apologetically, saying: «I will be brief, Mr. Velopoulos, don't worry.».
The Speaker of the House was right in his observation. Indeed, over the past two years, parliament seems to have been a privileged space for Kyriakos Velopoulos, with the government's approval.
The leader of the Greek Solution party is a regular in the chamber, taking advantage of the rule that allows each party leader to speak whenever they wish. He seems to have incorporated the Parliament into the mechanisms for promoting his party's positions. In fact, it is extremely common for him to make broader political statements whenever he speaks on a bill.
So far, so good, since all this is happening within the institutional framework of parliamentarianism. But did Kostas Tasoulas unwittingly reveal yet another aspect of the «special relationship» that New Democracy is discreetly and tacitly forming with a far-right party?;
Let us recall that meeting between Kyriakos Velopoulos and the prime minister's close associate, George Gerapetritis, on September 21 at the parliamentary offices of the Greek Solution party. Much has been said about its content. Leaks from the New Democracy party insisted, however, that it was a private discussion between the two.
However, the most interesting political element is the frequent parallelism or identification of the views of the Greek Solution with those of the New Democracy party.. When Kyriakos Velopoulos' party criticizes issues such as immigration or security and public order, the government seems to perceive this as constructive criticism.
The two parties seem to understand each other. Even if there are disagreements between them on vaccination issues. Even if Kyriakos Mitsotakis has verbally attacked Kyriakos Velopoulos for his views on this matter.
The relationship between the current leadership of New Democracy and the Greek Solution shows that it has a special «mechanism.» This is logical, since the two parties are, to a large extent, «fishing in the same waters» and in the same parts of the political spectrum. So, relationships of competition and harmony are formed at the same time.
At the same time, however, it would be strange if both sides did not bear in mind that the next elections will be held under a simple proportional representation system. With all that this implies for possible political alliances and scenarios for forming governments.
We will find out soon enough...
By Gerasimos Livitsanos
