Antonis Samaras Gears Up New Party as ND Faces Internal Strife

Former prime minister Antonis Samaras is quietly preparing to launch his own political party. Leaked information shows he is drafting "multi‑select" ballots that could include former New Democracy (ND) ministers, ex‑parliamentarians, members of the 91 initiative, and even media personalities. Simultaneously, Samaras is pursuing a case before the Supreme Court over the Predator wire‑tapping scandal, a move that has split opinions within ND.

ND leadership, including figures close to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and party head Nikos Maximos, is grappling with how to respond. Some party officials label Samaras' actions as a joke, while others acknowledge his right to seek an investigation into the surveillance. Recent MRB polling indicates that 27.1% of voters who supported ND in the last European elections might consider voting for Samaras' new party, raising concerns about a possible split of the party’s base.