ATHENS, 7 March 2004 — A larger-than-life portrait of Andreas Papandreou gazed down on a huge political rally here this week. “Andreas, you live! You are our leader!’’ the young voters cheered wildly.
Papandreou, the late Greek prime minister, is not a candidate for anything, of course. But his son, George, is leading the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement into national elections today — a contest that pits two rival political dynasties who will determine Greece’s uncertain future.
Polls show Papandreou’s Socialists, who have governed the country for all but three of the past 23 years, probably will lose a close race to the right-wing New Democracy Party, led by Costas Karamanlis.
Karamanlis is the nephew of conservative icon Constantine Karamanlis, the country’s longest-serving prime minister. The uncle led Greece off and on in the 1960s and ‘70s, including a tense period of restoring democracy after the 1968 US-backed military coup.
The two names — Papandreou and Karamanlis — are thus deeply intertwined in modern Greek history, representing the two families who have shaped the nation, ended its isolationism and made it a full-fledged partner in the European Community.
Voters are perhaps more concerned about immediate problems — the high cost of living and the low wages that exacerbate it — than about the storied pasts of the two men competing to become prime minister. But the familiar names and echo of tribal politics don’t hurt.
“For many Greeks, it is comforting,’’ said Anthony Livanios, a pollster and president of the Athens-based American Research. “People know both of these families; they are respected, strong symbols.’’
Both Papandreou, 51, and Karamanlis, 47, have sought to distance themselves from their progenitors in style, rhetoric and ideology.
Papandreou, whose father founded the Socialist Party and whose grandfather was a president and two-time prime minister, was born in the United States to an American mother, schooled at Amherst and speaks accented Greek. His campaign has been patterned in the American style, with lots of hand-clasping, baby-kissing appearances.
Known by Greeks as “Little George’’ — and by his critics as the “Little American’’ — Papandreou embraces policies that would have been anathema to the Socialists of his father’s generation, such as lowering taxes and privatizing universities.
Papandreou, a popular, charismatic foreign minister for the past five years, was placed at the head of the party last month by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who said he wanted to renew the Socialists’ fortunes. The move was seen as the party’s only hope to fend off New Democracy’s challenge.
“We have shown we can change ourselves,’’ Papandreou said, “which means we can change society.’’
Karamanlis, similarly, has toed a more centrist line than is familiar to his party’s most hard-core supporters. His aides describe his agenda as one that promotes free-market economic policies while advocating programs that benefit the most underprivileged.
The New Democracy Party has stressed the ruling Socialists’ inability to solve numerous social problems, such as inadequate healthcare and poor schools, in the past 11 years of uninterrupted rule.
“A cycle has closed,’’ Karamanlis told supporters at a recent rally. “The country is ready for change.’’ The Socialist Party, know by its initials as PASOK, is plagued by scandals and corruption allegations, which Karamanlis and others blame in part on the arrogance of being in office too long.
Both Karamanlis and Papandreou pledge to continue Greece’s recent rapprochement with historic enemy Turkey, which includes supporting Muslim nations’ efforts to join the European Union.
As foreign minister, Papandreou is credited with improving ties with Turkey, pushing forward a solution to the conflict that divides the island of Cyprus between Greek and Turkish proxies, and softening the anti-American rhetoric for which his father was famous.
Karamanlis also has made a point of establishing close personal relations with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will continue to pursue Greece’s most progressive foreign policies.
But the economy, not foreign policy, appears to be voters’ biggest concern, polls show. Greece has the fastest-growing economy in the European Union, but unemployment among women and workers younger than 25 is high.
Discontent and nervousness are what may give New Democracy its electoral-winning boost, political analysts say.
Lambis Dimitropoulos, a car mechanic, taxi driver and occasional musician, has supported PASOK his entire life, as has everyone else in his home village. And he plans to vote for the party again. But he doubts the Socialists will win.
“People are sick of PASOK and want change,’’ said Dimitropoulos, 27. “PASOK needs to lose to get a slap in the face. They are too certain of themselves.’’
The Socialists may yet pull it off. Greek electoral law prohibits the publication of opinion polls in the two weeks leading up to the vote, and Papandreou was narrowing the margin. Also, PASOK voters tend to return to the fold when it comes down to casting their ballot, said Livanios, the pollster.