Antonis Samaras announced his intention to endeavour to form a centre-right front, accusing at the same time Alexis Tsipras of irresponsibility, which is increasing the fears for the future of Greece.
The New Democracy leader said that the proposals of the radical left SYRIZA will destroy the country and "leaving the European structures could not be avoided." "An agreed amendment in the terms of the contract is one thing but a unilateral withdrawal from it is something else," he said.
"I hope Alexis Tsipras will come to his senses by the afternoon. If he does not do so, this would mean that he is trying to form a broad front against the Memorandum in order to cause a new election race."
The New Democracy leader said his party is the only pillar of stability and called for the creation of a European front of centre-right forces. His call is addressed to Democratic Alliance, Drasi and LAOS.
Dora Bakogiannis’ return in New Democracy has been intensively discussed since yesterday. The statements of her close associates, who said, “The interest of Greece requires cohesion between political forces, not disunity”, reinforced the rumours. They explained that they mean not only purely liberal parties like Drasi and ReCreate Greece but also New Democracy.
According to sources, however, to achieve this, the conditions, which Dora Bakogiannis would obviously set, need to be met. One of them is for New Democracy's position on the implementation of reforms to be expressed more clearly and the second condition set is the break in the restraint of some of the closest associates of the leader of New Democracy.
Drasi’s leader Stefanos Manos said in turn that it would be very difficult to return to New Democracy with its current leadership. "Such an act could be discussed only if New Democracy proves that it is fundamentally changing. For example, if Costas Karamanlis takes over the party again and he decides to open its doors to all similar ideological parties, following the example of EPE (of his uncle Constantine Karamanlis)," he told Kathimerini newspaper. According to the author of the publication, Stefanos Manos' main purpose is to form a coalition with Dora Bakogiannis on condition that neither he nor she would be the leaders of a possible coalition.
The leader of the newly established party ReCreate Greece Thanos Tzimeros is also involved in the negotiations as he is considered a strong "player" after winning 2.1% of the vote. He completely excludes the possibility of his party participating in a pre-election coalition with Drasi and even less with the Democratic Alliance of Dora Bakogiannis. Thanos Tzimeros said that his party is open to all members of the other two parties, who adopt its positions.
Under these conditions, no one could predict whether in the following days New Democracy will strengthen its positions resulting from its opening to the political centre or if the liberal forces will manage to agree, despite their refusal to do so before the election. Many of their voters are frustrated and rightly comment that by adding 6.5%, which is 19 deputies, to the election result right-wing forces would be the undisputed focal point of the pro-European front in Greece.