New Democracy faces internal rift and centrist competition

New Democracy (ND) is facing internal and external political challenges as it navigates its identity and competition for the political center in Greece. Internally, a conflict has emerged between the leadership of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and former party president Antonis Samaras. Samaras’s faction has criticized the current government, accusing it of moving away from its traditional right-wing roots and behaving more like a centrist entity.

Externally, the ruling party is intensifying its attacks on PASOK and its leader, Nikos Androulakis. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has accused PASOK of being aligned with the political left, specifically citing the party's support for SYRIZA MP Elena Akrita for the Deputy Speaker position of Parliament as evidence of a ‘green SYRIZA’ alignment.

This strategic shift by ND appears to be an attempt to capture centrist voters and prevent PASOK from consolidating the middle ground. Government officials argue that PASOK’s parliamentary cooperation with left-wing forces demonstrates that the party is moving toward the ‘left-wing apartment block’ rather than maintaining a distinct centrist identity.