The ruling New Democracy party is navigating internal tensions even as the government finds cautious relief following a critical parliamentary immunity vote, the introduction of economic relief measures, and a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.
Government sources acknowledged the situation “could have developed much worse,” as the parliamentary group held together during the immunity vote.
Officials believe the timing of economic relief measures helped stabilize the party after polling losses linked to the OPEKEPE agricultural subsidy scandal and the Lazaridis affair.
Macron’s visit on Friday reinforces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s international standing — consistently one of his strongest political assets. Yet internal friction persists.
Three former ministers publicly criticized party official Akis Skertsos over a social media post they interpreted as accusing MPs of clientelism. MP Makis Voridis said bluntly that “those outside parliament have no right to criticize from above.”
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis intensified tensions over the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, saying, “As long as Ms (Laura) Kovesi permits us, we still have democracy” — a stance that has strengthened his standing among backbench MPs even as it embarrasses the government.