CLOSE
Loading...
12° Nicosia,
02 April, 2025
 
Home  /  Comment  /  Opinion

Early signs of civility and consensus

The civilized tone of the meeting between Alexis Tsipras and Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Athanasios Ellis

Athanasios Ellis

Despite some natural degree of skirmishing and isolated criticism, rays of civility, consensus and cooperation are breaking out across the Greek political landscape.

Among the positive highlights was the civilized tone of the meeting between Alexis Tsipras and Kyriakos Mitsotakis the day after the elections, when the outgoing prime minister received his successor at the Maximos Mansion, as well as the cordial atmosphere during the ministry handover ceremonies. Some of the newcomers went as far as to acknowledge the work of their predecessors who, in turn, extended sincere wishes to the incoming ministers of the New Democracy administration.

The new prime minister reportedly briefed his predecessor about his decision to nominate the European Commission’s chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, as the country’s representative in the European Commission, and Tsipras reportedly voiced his consent.

After that came the positive remarks by new Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos about the Prespes accord. Panagiotopoulos said that he does not question “anyone’s intention that this agreement was achieved with a good reason in mind, to consolidate stability in the region and to consolidate the geopolitical constants in the region.”

During the three-day parliamentary debate on the new conservative government’s policy platform, Mitsotakis emphasized a self-evident fact: “We are political opponents. We are not enemies,” he said, adding: “We do not seek each other’s political extermination. Let [this session] mark that the era of anger, indignation and violence is over.”

Tsipras responded in the same spirit. “I am not going to ask our [European] partners to be stricter and tougher on you than they were on us. I want to assure you that any serious effort you make to pursue claims that will benefit the Greek people will have our support at home,” he declared.

Comments by former deputy prime minister Yiannis Dragasakis were in similar vein. He said “there is room for consensus” and urged Mitsotakis that he table in Parliament some of the bills prepared by the SYRIZA administration so both parties can vote them into law.

Earlier, Tsipras had assured European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Managing Director Klaus Regling that as leader of the opposition he will back any serious effort to lower primary budget surplus targets. Finally, the election of Kostas Tasoulas as House speaker with a record 283 votes also carries strong symbolism as it signifies a move in the direction of moderate discourse and a consensual tone, and away from vulgar attacks and loud altercations.

These are all welcome signs of a return to normality that can only benefit Greece. It would be premature to draw any conclusions, but the early signs are positive.

Opinion: Latest Articles

Screen grab from Instagram post

Wait...what?

Trump, Constantine, and a golden cross, the blessing no one saw coming
Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
 |  OPINION
File photo  of Colin Steart, Nicos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar at the 2024 UN Reception at the Ledra Palace

Slogans are easier than strategy

Slogans Are Easier Than Strategy Subtitle: As yet another round of Cyprus talks looms, familiar rhetoric resurfaces—but ...
George Kakouris
 |  OPINION
A cringe-worthy moment in history

A cringe-worthy moment in history

When diplomacy looks more like a shakedown—what Trump’s treatment of Zelensky reveals about America’s shifting role on the ...
Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
 |  OPINION
US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House © SAUL LOEB / AFP

Thank you, Donald!

How Trump's blunt approach is forcing Europe to rethink its place in the world
Alexis Papachelas
 |  OPINION
This is Cyprus...

This is Cyprus...

Despite years of legislation and promises, loopholes, double standards, and enforcement failures continue to plague sports ...
Opinion
 |  OPINION
X