Antonis Samaras recruits former ND officials for upcoming Greek party

Former Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras is preparing to launch a new political party and has been expanding his network of supporters. He attended a recent event organized by former New Democracy (ND) member Ioanna Gkelestathi, who resigned from the party and criticised its leadership, signalling open communication between Samaras and dissenting ND figures.

Samaras’s team is reportedly targeting former ND parliamentarians and other right‑leaning politicians, including ex‑minister Kostas Tsavvara, as well as figures from the “patriotic PASOK” segment, to build a broader base for the new party. Internal ND tensions have risen, with government spokespeople dismissing the movement as a “personalist party” ("προσωποπαγές κόμμα").

Recent polls show Samaras’s prospective party gaining modest support, while ND’s numbers have stabilised and the opposition SYRIZA continues to lose ground. The emerging party could reshape the electoral landscape ahead of the next national elections.