Constitutional Disputes Continue Among Officials

Greece’s governing New Democracy party faces growing criticism over its proposed constitutional amendments, with prominent legal scholar and former socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos emerging as a key opponent. The constitutional revision controversy has escalated tensions between the government and PASOK, the main center-left opposition party, potentially jeopardizing future political cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Venizelos, a distinguished constitutional law expert, sharply criticized the government’s approach in an opinion piece titled “Constitutional Populism” published in Kathimerini. According to his statement, “respecting the Constitution comes before revision,” signaling fundamental disagreement with the proposed changes and their underlying rationale.

Constitutional Amendments Face Political Obstacles

The veteran politician’s opposition presents significant challenges to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s political strategy. Government officials had reportedly hoped to secure cooperation from what they internally refer to as “the good PASOK” faction—moderate socialists willing to work across party lines on major issues. Such collaboration could potentially extend to a post-election coalition government in 2027.

However, Venizelos’s critical stance complicates both direct coalition-building efforts and the alternative strategy of attracting centrist PASOK voters to New Democracy. His credibility as a constitutional scholar adds considerable weight to his objections, making it harder for the government to dismiss the criticism as purely partisan.

History of Cross-Party Cooperation

Venizelos previously served in a coalition government with New Democracy from 2012 to 2015, working alongside then-Prime Minister Antonis Samaras during Greece’s financial crisis. The two politicians maintained a productive working relationship and personal friendship during that period. Additionally, Venizelos was once considered part of the “good PASOK” wing—resolutely anti-left and open to centrist alliances.

This history makes his current opposition to the constitutional revision particularly noteworthy. Meanwhile, government sources have suggested that personal grievances may motivate his stance, insinuating that Venizelos feels slighted for not being nominated as President of the Republic in 2025.

Internal Party Tensions Mirror Constitutional Debate

In contrast to government claims about Venizelos’s motives, the situation bears striking parallels to New Democracy’s own internal divisions. Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Venizelos’s coalition partner during the crisis years, has launched even more outspoken and personal attacks against current Prime Minister Mitsotakis. Consequently, Samaras was expelled from New Democracy, highlighting the intensity of disagreements over the party’s direction.

The irony of conservatives criticizing Venizelos for alleged personal motivations while simultaneously dealing with Samaras’s expulsion has not gone unnoticed by political observers. Both situations underscore deeper disagreements about constitutional governance and political priorities that transcend simple personality conflicts.

Implications for Political Landscape

The constitutional revision controversy reveals fault lines that could reshape Greece’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. Government displeasure with Venizelos’s opposition demonstrates how difficult it will be to build the centrist consensus that constitutional amendments typically require. Furthermore, the dispute may push PASOK toward a harder opposition stance, limiting potential cooperation on other legislative priorities.

The debate also raises questions about the substance of the proposed constitutional changes themselves. Nevertheless, specific details about which amendments sparked the “constitutional populism” accusation remain unclear in public reporting, though the characterization suggests concerns about politically motivated rather than legally sound revisions.

The government has not announced whether it will proceed with the constitutional revision plan despite the criticism or seek to modify proposals to address opposition concerns. Additionally, PASOK leadership has not formally stated its position on potential future coalition arrangements, leaving the political landscape uncertain as Greece moves toward the 2027 electoral cycle.