“If they take your license away three times, can you drive another car?”.
With this phrase, Kyriakos Mitsotakis described in the simplest terms the political reality facing Alexis Tsipras is facing as he attempts to return with a new party vehicle. The prime minister’s remark was apt. And, if one is to be honest, it was also quite moderate given what has happened at the polls in recent years.
Because Kyriakos Mitsotakis did not limit himself to defeating Alexis Tsipras once or twice. From 2019 through 2023, he recorded a string of electoral triumphs rarely seen in modern political history. Instead of speaking only of “diplomacy,” one might observe that at every campaign rally, the president of New Democracy left his political opponent without arguments, without a narrative, without a political foundation, and some more cynical observers would say…without underwear.
It all began in the European elections of May 2019. New Democracy prevailed by a margin of 9.4 percentage points, causing a political shock to the then-government and forcing Alexis Tsipras to call early national elections.
A few weeks later came the second victory. In the parliamentary elections of July 7, 2019, Kyriakos Mitsotakis won with 39.85% of the vote and formed a majority government.
During the same period, the local elections saw an almost universal victory for New Democracy. Candidates backed by the center-right won 12 of the country’s 13 regions. At the same time, the largest municipalities went to candidates who defeated those backed by SYRIZA. It was a clear political message of disapproval toward the government at the time.
In 2023, two more elections followed. On May 21 , New Democracy garnered 40.79%, leaving SYRIZA at 20.07%. A month later, on June 25, it repeated its victory with 40.56% and secured a new majority. That development led Alexis Tsipras to resign from the leadership of his party.
Overall, Kyriakos Mitsotakis recorded six consecutive electoral victories at the national, European, and local levels against the same political opponent. That is why his reference yesterday to the “diploma” sounded more like an observation than an attack.
If Alexis Tsipras believes that a new party logo is enough to change the public’s memory, he is likely underestimating the electorate. The Greeks have already delivered their verdict six times. And all signs point to the seventh decision already being a foregone conclusion.
