“We are not the most ready party”: representative of Caristianu admitted problems, but not a crisis

The representative of Maria Caristianu’s party stated that surveys do not capture its key audienceand the movement program will be presented in the coming weeks. This is happening against the backdrop of the first noticeable departures from the new political force.

Maria Caristianu part Hope for Democracy tries to explain why its real political dynamics, according to its leadership, are not reflected in the polls. Movement representative Thanasis Avgerinos stated that sociology does not see that part of society on which the new political force is banking: people who have not participated in elections for a long time and are reluctant to answer questions from research companies.

Avgerinos spoke on Naftemporiki TV, where at the same time he spoke about the future program of the party, the departure of individual participants, the dispute over an apartment purchased through an auction by the company Maria Karistianu, and foreign policy issues.

“We said from the very beginning that we don’t really trust polls. They do not capture perhaps the most important trend in the strengthening of the party: those people who abstained from recent electoral processes and do not answer pollsters’ questions.” – said the representative “Hope for Democracy.”

Are the polls showing no supporters or has the party not proven itself yet?

Thesis about “invisible electorate” well known to Greek politics. It is usually used by new projects that hope to mobilize the disillusioned, non-voters and those who have long distrusted any of the parliamentary parties.

But this formula has an obvious problem: until a person comes to the polling station, he remains not a voter, but the hope of a voter. Surveys really don’t perfectly measure the mood of those who don’t answer calls and don’t want to participate in research. But political power cannot endlessly explain the weak numbers by the existence of an unknown army of silent supporters.

For Caristianu’s party, the coming months will test precisely this thesis. If the movement can move beyond protest emotion to a coherent program on housing, income, taxes, health care and foreign policy, then the conversation about the “ignored electorate” will have a more solid basis.

They promise to present the program later

Avgerinos admitted that the party is not yet ready in all areas. According to him, the program is in the final stages of preparation and its main provisions will begin to be published in the coming weeks.

He announced an event with borrower associations dedicated to the work of servicers and investment funds purchasing problem loans. The movement’s spokesman also said that the party does not intend to repeat the usual political ritual of making loud promises before the International Exhibition in Thessaloniki.

“We are not the most prepared party due to the limited resources we have,” Thanasis Avgerinos said. This is a rare admission for a political representative: usually parties consider themselves ready to govern the country even before they have had time to explain what exactly they will do with utility bills, hospitals and household debts.

Hope for Democracy was launched by Maria Caristianu in May 2026 as an independent citizens’ movement. The founding declaration outlined twenty broad areas, including family support, security, education and citizen participation in decision-making. About the presentation of the movement.

Departures from the party: “I see more entries than exits”

A separate topic was the first noticeable departures from the new movement. After the creation of the party, technical expert on the Tempi case Vassilis Kokotsakis and retired pilot Thanasis Papanikolaou announced their withdrawal. Another participant, Dimitris Savvidis, publicly distanced himself from the project.

Thanasis Avgerinos does not consider this a serious political crisis. According to him, when a movement turns into a party, differences are inevitable, and the number of new joiners, he claims, exceeds the number of those who left.

“I don’t see a lot of departures. I see a lot of intros,” he said.

However, for a party that is only a few weeks old, high-profile departures still become a problem. The new force had not yet created a stable organizational structure, but was already faced with internal disputes, conflicts over the role of individual participants, and public complaints against the leadership. About the first departures from the party.

Dispute over Caristianu’s apartment

Avgerinos also commented on the topic of real estate acquired through an auction by Maria Karistianou’s company. He stated that we were talking about a small apartment in a disadvantaged area of ​​Athens, and that the purchase itself was made by Karystianou’s former partner during a difficult period for her.

The party spokesman suggested that instead of focusing on this story, they should discuss a broader issue: housing for doctors, teachers, military, police and other public sector workers who cannot afford rent in expensive areas.

This line of defense is politically understandable: instead of talking about a specific deal, the party is trying to shift the topic to the housing crisis. But here too she will have to answer not only in general words. A new political project that envisions a moral alternative to the old system will inevitably be scrutinized on every issue related to money, property and transparency.

Criticism of the NATO summit

In the interview, Avgerinos also touched on foreign policy. He criticized Greece’s participation in NATO, saying the country was losing geopolitical weight despite its loyalty to its allies.

According to him, Athens too often acts as a “follower” rather than as an independent player, and does not receive political dividends for this.

This position fits into the broader political style of the Karystianou movement: criticism of traditional parties, distrust of official decision-making centers and a focus on the idea of ​​a more independent Greece. But while the party does not have a detailed program, the question remains open of exactly what this “independence” will look like in practice.

The main problem of the new party

Hope for Democracy has already received a name recognition, emotional support and a high level of attention. But the leader’s fame does not replace the program, party organization and ready-made answers to the questions that arise in any voter: what will happen to wages, taxes, housing, banks, hospitals and relations with allies.

Avgerinos promises to present the program in the coming weeks. It is then that it will become clear whether the polls really do not notice the audience of Caristianu’s party, or whether the movement is still living mainly due to the moral capital accumulated around the Tempi affair and public distrust of the old political forces.

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