Challenging times for Greece’s political parties

The Greek political system is going through challenging times. The fragmentation, in whatever direction it takes place in the ideological spectrum, can only act as an impediment to the country's political stability and smooth governance.

Despite the "safe" distance separating New Democracy from its main rivals on the center-left, PASOK and SYRIZA, the ruling party is torn between three factions: the one controlled by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the other two led by his two predecessors at the helm of ND, and former prime ministers, Kostas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras.

The divisions - the result of ideological differences, objections on moral grounds, but also personal animosity - run deep and there is no prospect of relations being restored anytime soon.

To what extent that dire reality will impact the party's appeal remains to be seen. But as the...