The Defeat of Populism in Greece

The presence of the right-wing party of Nea Dimokratia (ND) in the political spectrum of Greece reflects an enormous change in the political behavior of the public. The citizens have not just contributed with their votes to a strategic defeat of populism but also paved the way for the search for a new type of leadership, which is close to realism in handling the social problems. This is a clear trend against the overpromise and under-delivery experienced under Syriza’s rule. The dominance of conservative ND is not an ideological choice. It is a choice that runs counter to the logic of falsely or hypocritically negotiating austerity measures opposed to Greece by his Lenders (memorandum) and the consequent tax-tornado as a result of negotiating failure with the partners in the EEC and the IMF. The positive choice of ND also reflects the contradiction with the misguided manipulations of public opinion regarding the strategy of micro concessions and micro allowances as a means of concluding a “political social alliance” with an undefined hostile establishment.