SPD MEP: A socialist-conservative coalition bad option for Greece
A collaboration between socialists and conservatives to form a coalition government in Greece after the 21 May elections would not be a good option for the Mediterranean country, especially after a wiretapping scandal which has been shaking Greek politics for months, German MEP Udo Bullmann told EURACTIV.de in an interview.
Greeks will cast their vote in an unpredictable election on 21 May, and it’s becoming increasingly uncertain whether the parties can form a government.
The three main parties in the running are the ruling New Democracy party (EPP), the main leftist opposition Syriza party (EU Left), and the socialists (Pasok – S&D).
Pasok, a member of the EU socialist family as Bullmann’s SPD, is expected to play the kingmaker’s role and collaborate with New Democracy or Syriza.
New Democracy prefers a single-party government, while Syriza has clarified that it aims for a “progressive coalition” with the socialists.
The socialists have kept their cards close to the chest, although their electoral program is much closer to Syriza’s.
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Asked if a coalition between Pasok and New Democracy would be an option in light of the wiretapping scandal, Bullmann, who was also SPD negotiator on the EU affairs chapter of the German coalition, replied:
“Personally, I don’t think it could become a good option for the country. I can’t imagine that there is a bridge over this ditch [wiretapping scandal] because fundamental basic rights have already been violated,” said Bullmann, who also heads the human rights committee in the European Parliament.
The wiretapping scandal, known as “Greek Watergate”, was revealed after Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis told there was an attempted hack of his mobile phone.
The Greek secret services – under the personal control of Greek conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – admitted that Androulakis was put under surveillance but never revealed why, citing national security.
Months later, the premier admitted that the socialist leader posed no danger to national security, triggering a wave of reactions.
Read more: Greek PM admits bugging socialist leader’s phone was wrong
Meanwhile, the Greek press reported that several politicians, journalists and businessmen had also been victims of the scandal.
Syriza, the main opposition party in Greece, has vowed to shed light on the wiretapping scandal and hold those responsible to account.
For the leftist party, the wiretapping scandal could be a fundamental element of a progressive coalition with socialists, although the required numbers to form a government may not be there, at least in the first round.
According to experts, the most likely scenario is, thus, that there will be a new Greek election coming on 2 July.
Incomprehensible EPP backing
The scandal has triggered a strong reaction from all political groups in the European Parliament, except the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) – which New Democracy belongs to – and some far-right politicians.
The socialists blame the EPP for turning a blind eye to the scandal to protect Mitsotakis and his party. The EU centre-right describes the scandal as “socialist propaganda ahead of the Greek elections”.
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“I lack all understanding as to why Mr Manfred Weber and the EPP continue to court Mitsotakis in the way they do”, Bullmann commented.
The German politician added that the problem is EPP’s “power opportunism”.
“That is why Mitsotakis’ violations of fundamental rights are also denied at almost any cost”, he said.
Syriza flirting with EU socialists?
The political puzzle at the EU level is complex as Syriza belongs to the EU left.
However, its leader Alexis Tsipras is invited as an observer to the gatherings of the EU socialist leaders (PES).
Syriza’s cosying up with the EU socialists seems to pay off, as he is seen in an increasingly positive light.
“Syriza has the potential to become a socialist party. And I would be very happy if it continues to develop in that direction,” Bullmann said, reminding though that Pasok is the central partner.
Last month, Syriza was also received by the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), a rare honour for a foreign political figure that does not even belong to the same political group.
“Syriza regularly attends meetings of the Party of European Socialists in Brussels. Olaf Scholz and Alexis Tsipras followed this up with an exchange of views during Alexis Tsipras’ visit to Berlin at the Willy Brandt House,” a spokesperson of the SPD told EURACTIV.de.
Jens Bastian, a researcher at the German Institute of Interational and Security Studies (SWP), told EURACTIV that eyeing his potential future coalition partner, the rapprochement with the EU socialists is thus “part of Tsipras’ political calculation”.
However, despite these advances towards the socialists, Tsipras has no intention of leaving his faction of the Left in the European Parliament, the expert noted.
He added that Tsipras also showed his political flexibility during his visit to Berlin. Later the same day he visited Scholz, Tsipras also paid a visit to Syriza’s German sister party Die Linke.
(Oliver Noyan | EURACTIV.de)
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