“Hope for Democracy”: Karystianoy’s political party stirs conservatives in Greece

A new political party called “Hope for Democracy” -Elpida gia ti Dimokratia – was announced by Maria Karystianou, the activist mother of a young woman killed during the Tempi train tragedy in February 2023.

Karystianou announced the party at the ‘Olympion’ theater in Thessaloniki, the city on northern Greece known for its conservative voters, on Thursday evening

Karystianoy presented the party’s founding charter that includes   among others, support of families and young people, restructuring of the educational system and the National Health System, and transparency in public contracts and bank operations.

Coordination and presentation at the event were handled by journalist Thanassis Avgerinos, TV correspondent in Moscow for many years, and actress, producer, screenwriter and activist Katerina Moutsatsou who return to Greece after more than a decade in the U.S.

While some claim that Karystianou’s party is a conservative one, even more right than New Democracy, the party’s charter did not reveal any particular ideology in the conventional political terms we have been using until now.

But times have being changed, ideologies seem to have died … yet for sure, Hope for Democracy may fill the gap and give an option to conservative voters who are angry and disappointed from ruling New Democracy scandals and will cast a vote of protest.

Next week it is former left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who will announce his own party and has chances to attract votes from SYRIZA, PASOK and progressives.

Parliamentary elections in Greece are scheduled in spring 2027 – according to PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis -, while scenarios see also the possibility for autumn 2026.