What happened before and after the debate on the motion of no confidence offers the government the basic dilemma, which it lacked, in view of the European elections: “Vote for normality or political uncertainty”. Or, in other words, “Stability or retreat” in situations of institutional imbalance, economic cachexia and the prevalence of populism and toxicity.
Dilemma
The electoral dilemma that K. Mitsotakis is expected to pose has advantages, but also difficulties, on the one hand due to the more relaxed nature of the European elections and on the other hand because the government let valuable time be wasted by underestimating the social reflection that the Tempe tragedy had .
The main advantage of the dilemma is that it “steps” into reality. The opposition’s temporary complicity in a line of scripting, people’s courts and open instrumentalization of the victims and their relatives, cannot hide the internal conflict on the motley “front of mistrust” (mainly between SYRIZA and PASOK).
A fact that does not create the conditions for the formation of an alternative governmental solution. The biggest difficulty he has is to convince those who are oriented towards a “protest vote”, that even if the government does not fall – let alone if it has a three-year clear term in front of it – a possible bad result in the European elections will cloud the landscape, giving space to populism and political chauvinism.
K. Mitsotakis, according to information, being aware of the reality, is expected to proceed with the development of all 4 axes of his campaign:
1 Grounding
It was seen both from the content and the style of his speech in the Parliament, addressed mainly to the relatives of the victims, that he is determined to confront phenomena and behaviors that show a lack of contact with reality, arrogance and a lack of empathy.
2 Counterattack
His clear message, that “I will not co-govern with any paracenter”, has recipients, as his associates say, and the “paracenters” and their “proxies”. In this context, it is expected that nothing that creates shadows will be left unanswered. On the contrary, it is expected that light will be shed on actions and omissions of political leaders, who flirt with collusions and “political deals” behind the scenes.
3 Retraining
The departure of his two closest associates, G. Bratakou and St. Papastavrou, from M. Maximou, leads to a change in the operating model of the staff state. According to information, his role is expected to be upgraded M. Voridis, who will absorb the responsibilities that St. Papastavrou. And so he is expected to undertake, in addition to the parliamentary representation of the prime minister, the legislative work of the government. Due to the volume of the portfolio, it is possible to appoint a Deputy Minister of State – with a preference for him Stelios Koutnatzis-, who will co-assist M. Voridis.
The second crucial decision is the substantial upgrading of two old and trusted associates of K. Mitsotakis. THE G. Mylonakis and Mich. Bekiriswithout abandoning the institutional roles they have (general secretary of the Parliament and director of the Prime Minister’s Office in the Parliament), are expected to have a much more active role in the operation of M. Maximos.
As government sources say, they will manage the critical responsibilities that G. Bratakos had, whose position is essentially abolished. The presence of G. Mylonakis and Mich. is not at all accidental from this point of view. Bekiri – for the first time – at yesterday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers. It is, as it is estimated, a “presence-message” inside and outside the government.
In the position of the director of the Office of the Prime Minister, a person with no particular political weight is expected to be appointed, who will mainly have an administrative character and administrative skills. The Minister of State remains stable in his position and responsibilities A. Schertzos. Changes are expected in the Prime Minister’s Press Office (due to his candidacy D. Tsiodra in the European elections), as well as a redistribution of roles in the communication staff of M. Maximos. In the context of the same planning, the thoughts of double elections in June, but also the realization of a reshuffle before the European elections, were dismissed with praise. The information insists that the decision for a substantial reshuffle of the government has been made, but it will be made after the European elections and after taking into account their result.
4 Back to reality
The new increase in the minimum wage to 830 euros is considered yet another link in the effort to permanently increase the income of workers, so that the minimum wage reaches 950 euros and the average wage reaches 1,500 euros. Along with the income strengthening above the current inflation, the battle with accuracy, which remains the most important problem of the society, is expected to intensify.
Already the efforts and measures of the Ministry of Development Mr. Skreka, as estimated, have begun to perform on the shelf. The greatest intensity of controls to deal with profiteering is in the government priorities. There is satisfaction with the drop in electricity prices – “it may have exceeded our own expectations”, said K. Mitsotakis at yesterday’s Ministry. Council-, in contrast to the concern that exists about the rise in petrol and diesel prices. Security, defense, immigration, health and education complete the first line of government priorities, which, together with the European dimension of these problems, will make up the proposal of the ND. in view of the elections of 9her June.
Starting point the conference of N.D.
There, the prime minister is expected to say that “we need MEPs with a European line, but at the same time with a strong national voice”, directly linking the European elections with stability: “In the same ballot box, political stability will obviously be weighed, but also the continuation of a course which, despite the difficulties, it leads forward”.
G. BRATAKOU – ST. PAPASTAVROU RESIGNATIONS
The background of “bengera” and the “wrong message”
The consequences of his departure G. Bratakou and his St. Papastavrou from the government were more than noticeable at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. The atmosphere, despite the “joyful agenda” of the meeting (increasing the minimum wage), was very heavy. No one made the slightest allusion to the matter, but it lingered in the atmosphere.
The two resigned ministers were not only top officials of the government and close associates of the prime minister. They were also his friends. As they became friends with almost all the ministers and staff of M. Maximos.
Especially G. Bratakos, who as the secretary of the N.D. had a decisive contribution to the electoral victories of the ND. and close ties with the whole backbone of the party. While St. Papastavrou managed to become the “voice of reason” and the man of special missions. And yet K. Mitsotakis was forced to make the difficult decision. For some, it was a “one-way street” after their visit to V. Marinakis’ house was leaked on Sunday night, when on the morning of the same day the title “Montaziera” was published in “Vima” in a report, which was the “pass” to N. Androulakis to take the initiative to file a motion of censure.
No shadow
K. Mitsotakis, as his colleagues say, was obliged not to let shadows wander during the discussion of the motion of censure. But also to prove that when he says “I don’t co-govern with eccentrics”, he means it. The explanation for the expulsions of the Prime Minister’s “Dioskouros” was “the wrong message” given by their presence at that particular moment, at the businessman’s house, who was celebrating the following day. Those who know people and things, know e.g. that G. Bratakos and V. Marinakis are childhood friends and have grown up together, due to the close friendship their fathers had, English Bratakos, minister and secretary of the N.D., and Miltiadis Marinakis, who served as a member of the N.D.
According to information, before the evening of the 24thher of March turned into a “begera”, there was the “conversation of the four”: The two former ministers with V. Marinakis and a very close associate of the owner of Alter Ego, in order to clarify whether there is a “war” and whether the situation could be defused … loose-loose. As the information says, it was a discussion “without commitments and negotiations”, but like the discussions that take place in difficult times and over all governments. The guests of V. Marinakis seem to have started to arrive around the time the “discussion of the four” ended. Then the mistake of the “wrong message” happened. The two ex-ministers remained in the “bengera”, which was attended by 8 other people, businessmen and journalists, who maintain social relations with V. Marinakis.
It is worth noting that according to the estimates of people who are in a position to know, the leak about the “beggera” with the Cuban cigars and whiskey was not made by the environment of V. Marinakis. It was leaked, it is said, by an opponent of V. Marinakis, a businessman, who has complaints from both M. Maximou and the… port.
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