From a memorial to a political prediction
Can anyone imagine that a memorial event to commemorate the late president of the republic, Constantine Karamanlis, and founder of the main opposition New Democracy party would develop into a memorial for the ruling party and its prime minister? That is what resulted from the upheaval, particularly within the government, that followed a statement by the honorary president of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Harilaos Florakis, to the press. «(ND leader) Costas Karamanlis is 100 percent certain to become the next prime minister!» Florakis said after a 10-minute private meeting with the ND leader, who is a nephew of the late statesman. That was enough for the balloon to go up. «Did you say that Costas Karamanlis would become prime minister?» asked one journalist who wanted to make sure he had heard correctly. «One hundred percent!» reiterated Florakis. His words were relayed on all evening news programs – frequently. Immediately afterwards, responses came thick and fast from PASOK General Secretary Costas Laliotis – 100 percent a communicator – who said the phrase would raise obstacles to cooperation between PASOK and KKE in October’s local elections. «I hope Mr Florakis was only expressing wishful thinking,» said Laliotis. Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos maliciously wondered how «a leader of the historic Left could indulge in public relations wth the leader of the conservative bloc.» ND’s honorary president and former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis’s comment was: «Mr Florakis only gave expression to their fear, which is why it bothered them.» That evening, Karamanlis had at his side his beautiful wife Natassa Pazaiti, with whom Florakis exchanged a few words in the Vlach language. (Pazaiti has Vlach roots and hails from Samarina.) Apart from Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Florakis is the only one who has made no comment on the statement, but his smile says everything. It was raining that afternoon, but the hall was packed to overflowing. Former ministers and current parliamentary deputies, along with all the old guard, were there, and many who would like to be the «new guard.» The government was represented by Deputy Minister Nasos Alevras, whose late uncle and former Parliament Speaker Yiannis Alevras had been on friendly terms with the late president, despite being a political rival. In the first row with Karamanlis and his wife were Constantine Mitsotakis and Athens mayoral candidate Dora Bakoyianni. It was rumored that even the marble bust at the entrance to the Europe Hall smiled at Florakis’s comment.
