PROBLEM

Yesterday’s telephone conversation between Acting Minister of National Defense Alkiviades Stefanis and his colleague Yasar Güler on the occasion of the assumption of the post of the former head of the Turkish armed forces, in addition to the formal nature of the congratulations, had a much more meaningful meaning. The possibility and desire of the two sides to have an open channel for improving relations between Greece and Turkey was confirmed. The fact that this time the former deputy minister of national defense and the former head of the hydroelectric power station is at the helm of the Ministry of National Defense is not accidental. The goal is to have people in Athens in the pre-government period who will help with long-term goals, mainly through a permanent military channel.

ACCIDENT

To the left of SYRIZA. There is a fierce struggle going on between the various factions, as the retreat of SYRIZA in the May 21 elections and the impending further decline in the percentage of MePA25 lead to even more friction. From a demographic point of view, at least, Zoe Constantinopooulou’s Freedom Sailing seems to be gaining momentum. The greatest tension was created in the game of Janis Varoufakis, in which the reaction was expected. First, accusations of Janis against the electorate, and then an attempt to regroup. Thus, we are told that MePA25 is due to enter Parliament again, and until then we can discuss the “violent attack on wage labor”, “the climate crisis and class war”, and “what kind of socialism we need”. One can see the influence of specific party youth on this issue. But maybe student elections are the purpose of MeRA25. And well done.

FACE

Harold Macmillan. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1957–1963) is known to have once said that the only thing he fears is events (“events, dear boy, events”). Whether he said it or not, the events of recent days seem to be trying to remind us that reality is different from the often fruitless pre-election debate. The death of a woman in a farm cart on Kos was recorded in the collective subconscious (one way or another) as another failure of the state. Details are always important, but the big picture is discouraging. The state, which has at the basis of its existence – to a large extent – its island character, treats the islands as an economic resource (thanks to tourism), without the necessary protection from everyday life. Knowledgeable people remember those endless debates about whether Greece should become an “archipelago state”, what it would take and what its character would be. A random, dramatic event reminds everyone of a banal and unattractive reality. Electoral confrontation is good, but at some point we have to decide whether the cohesion – geographically demanding – of the Greek territory is more than a slogan. Whether events affect elections or not.

PLACE

The Supreme Court and its first part. There today it will be decided which parties meet the conditions for participating in the June 25 elections. Of course, the game of Ilias Kasidiaris arouses the greatest interest. According to experts’ estimates and forecasts, both the Kasidiaris party and 9-10 other small electoral formations that do not even meet formal requirements will be “cut out”. In addition, Kasidiaris did a trick by running as an independent candidate in Athens A, who, along with other lone candidates in various regions, meet ostensibly by chance. This provision may reportedly be viewed by the judges as a party in disguise. And in this case – as in May – only N.D. and PASOK filed a memorandum, but SYRIZA and the other parties did not follow it.

ATTACK

“Hakan Fidan is a person you can get along with.” This was stated by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias (r / s Parapolitika), commenting on the new head of Turkish diplomacy and the former commander of MIT. Mr. Dendias, of course, knows Mr. Fidan very well, as the MIT commander was present at all the lengthy meetings with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Whether in the photographic “frame” or behind it, Mr. Fidan was present. However, Mr. Dendias failed to say that Mr. Fidan was much closer to Erdogan than his predecessor.