Zoe Konstantopoulou’s Zoe to stem the defections to the party Karystianou, the self-important Velopoulos and the elusive “leaders” of the Left.
We wrote yesterday about the top-of-the-table (for second place) ELAS vs. PASOK and the efforts of the two party leaders (the well-rested Alexis —after a two-year-plus hiatus—and the angry Nikos) to finalize their rosters.
So while you were reading the “Manifesto,” our Cat told us to take a stroll by Maria Karystianou’s offices—currently under construction (being renovated, to be precise)—in central Athens, then by public transit (in the arms of a lovely lady) to Lipasmata, where, ahead of July 5, the entire staff of Zoe Konstantopoulou is based, and then by taxi to the northern suburbs.
There he saw Antonis Samaras hurrying to the presentation of Michalis Sala’s book. So that the former prime minister wouldn’t notice that she was trying to read his lips—since he had aides standing next to him— he opened his cell phone and stole glances at Kyriakos Velopoulos’s Facebook page.
It’s quite a story, but the stakes are high for everyone mentioned in the first paragraph: Maria versus Zoe and Antonis versus Kyriakos! Let’s start with the ladies. The president of the Freedom Movement is launching her election campaign next Sunday because she feels she must not give Hope any room to grow, either organizationally or politically.
Ms. Konstantopoulou has held dozens of meetings in recent weeks, not only to solidify her own base, but also to cut off those who were considering responding positively to Maria Karystianou’s invitation. According to her associates, the effort was successful, so she is not worried and considers the poll numbers given by polling firms to the party of the former president of the relatives of the Tempi tragedy victims “an echo of that period that won’t make it to the polls.”
An opposition full of rabbit-brained people
Let’s move to the opposite end of the political spectrum and start with the president of Greek Solution. Kyriakos Velopoulos comes across as self-admiring and self-aggrandizing.
If you look at his latest Facebook post, you’ll understand what our Cat means: “The president of the Greek Solution party, Kyriakos Velopoulos, delivered a historic speech—a manifesto—in Parliament: ‘This is how we will govern Greece!’” ‘It’s over’ for Tsipras and his party! The New Democracy MPs went into hiding: ‘You’re blue-haired idiots; I’ll put you in jail’… Reopen the OEK now so Greeks can get homes! This is how bankers are robbing Greeks with interest rates… You’re energy wrecks; you’re devastating Macedonia! You’re letting the Turks steal the Greeks’ wealth…” No, we’re not joking.
His associates wrote and posted these on his behalf.
Apparently, Antonis Samaras may not be causing New Democracy much anxiety, but the Greek Solution party seems seriously concerned about the prospect of the former prime minister founding a new party. He continues his meetings as usual, mainly at his office where he receives visitors, but he also enjoys the company of good friends at his favorite hangouts. Antonis Samaras also attended the event hosted by Ioanna Gelestathi, who was in charge of public order for New Democracy, apparently targeting an audience of police officers.
There may be a lot of noise, but the bottom line is that Maria and Zoe on one side, and Kyriakos and Antonis on the other, are fishing in the same pools, in a world that would never under any circumstances vote for New Democracy. So the staff at the Maximos Mansion aren’t worried. They’re simply waiting to see what damage each will inflict on the other, who will survive, and who will have to swallow the bitter pill of relegation, ultimately remaining outside Parliament. And one final question: Where is Niki? Where are the Spartans? What are Yiannis, Gabriel, and Polakis-Pappas-Dourou up to? Answers coming soon.
Champions of Silence
Reppas, Petalotis, Xynidis, and other KIDISO kids (for those in the know) have mobilized once again to play ball in the… World Cup of the underdogs, which we’re writing about in the adjacent column (the underdogs, not the World Cup).
Although the “Red Cat” can hardly be described as a Papandreou loyalist, it is well aware that there are two factions within the former prime minister’s inner circle. One group of advisors is urging George Papandreou to “go into the election quietly.”
After all, they tell him, “as a former prime minister, he has a guaranteed seat in Achaea, so he’ll still be in the loop the day after.” In other words, he shouldn’t risk exposing himself and should wait for the outcome of the showdown between “the relaxed Alexis” and “the angry Nikos.”
“George, take a stand”
However, there is also a pair of associates—not included among the figures mentioned in the previous paragraph—who are operating along the lines of “George, take a stand.”
In fact, the two officials spoke at length with the former prime minister on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Andreas Papandreou, as they had been associates of the late founder of PASOK. What did they tell him? “Gatos” doesn’t write lies.
He hasn’t been in touch with them recently, but from earlier discussions he knows full well that they are of the opinion that “Giorgos can’t just sit back and watch PASOK fall apart—he has to speak out.” After all, as we’ve informed you, the former prime minister’s office has received dozens of requests from media outlets waiting for him to grant them an interview.
Pollsters in a state of panic
Summer is coming, and the window for conducting polls is slowly closing. The problem is that right now, with so many new parties, there are a lot of clients who are in a hurry.
Everyone wants at least one public opinion poll, either for internal use or to… leak it to the media, if they deem it to be in their best interest. That’s exactly where the tensions lie, because in order for the latter to happen, some (mainly new players) ask pollsters to provide… interpretations, and serious pollsters don’t do that.
