Right-Wing Political Moves in Greece: Trumpism, New Party Possibilities, and ND Leadership

The arrival of Kim Porter, the former wife of Donald Trump, at the US Embassy in Athens since September has sparked interest among ‘Trump supporters’ for a new far-right party in Greece. The agenda will be pro-Trump, featuring an anti-Woke stance with extreme social views on migration and LGBTQ+ rights restrictions. These positions were previously championed by Greek parties like Greek Solution, Victory, and Spartans. Hellenic Voice gained traction due to its admiration for Trump, with Afroditi Latinopoulou even dancing live on TV to Trump’s campaign song, Y.M.C.A. Efforts have been made to connect with Greek-Americans close to Trump, including trips to the US for networking. Panos Kammenos, a friend of Gus Bilirakis, posted about Bilirakis’s victory in Florida, highlighting his ties to Trump. Kammenos, who recently turned 60, is considering a political move but awaits the right moment. Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras faces criticism from Kammenos and Kyriakos Velopoulos if he forms a new party. Meanwhile, discussions within New Democracy (ND) focus on whether Samaras would gain 3-4% or up to 7-8% in potential elections. Regarding ND’s new secretary, two candidates are favored: Yiannis Smyrlis, current general director, and star MPs like Kostas Skrekas or Zetta Makri. Relations between PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Adonis Georgiadis have fully recovered, lifting previous media bans. Lastly, Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistocleous is gaining traction in Eastern Attica, while Education Minister Sophia Zacharaki remains absent from local politics.