Former Greek PMs shake up political landscape - DW - 11/02/2025

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 10:32 GMT by dw

Greece’s Political Landscape in the Wake of Alexis Tsipras and the Cyprus‑Turkey Tension

The Greek political arena has long been dominated by the dramatic rise and fall of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras and his left‑wing coalition Syriza. The recent DW feature, “Greece: Prime Minister’s politics – Syriza, Tsipras, Cyprus, Turkey,” traces the arc of Tsipras’s career, the ideological roots of Syriza, and the enduring geopolitical friction between Greece and Turkey over Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.

Alexis Tsipras and the 2015 Revolution

Alexis Tsipras first captured Greece’s imagination in the 2015 parliamentary elections, when Syriza, an anti‑austerity coalition, won a surprise victory over the long‑ruling New Democracy. Tsipras’s early tenure was defined by a confrontational stance toward the troika—European Union, International Monetary Fund, and European Central Bank—fiercely opposing the austerity measures that had been imposed on Greece during its debt crisis. While his government negotiated a bailout that included debt relief, it was also beset by internal divisions, a series of elections, and a contentious “Greek debt crisis” that pushed the country to the brink of leaving the eurozone. The article links to a detailed background on Syriza’s origins, which explains how the party evolved from a coalition of far‑left parties, green activists, and civil‑society groups that rose out of the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2011 Greek protests.

The 2019 Exit and the 2023 Political Re‑alignment

In 2019, Tsipras’s government withdrew Greece from the eurozone, a move that was ultimately annulled by a court ruling and a subsequent referendum. The failure to maintain sovereign control over its currency marked a significant pivot for Tsipras, who was later elected in 2023 as a member of the opposition. In 2023, a surprising political turn came when Syriza joined forces with the right‑wing New Democracy, forming a coalition that reflected the broader fragmentation and volatility in Greek politics. The article draws on a DW piece that explores the 2023 elections and the shifting alliances that left voters scrambling to understand the new political order.

Cyprus: The Greek‑Turkish Divide

Cyprus remains a flashpoint in Greek politics, and the article delves into the complex history of the island’s division between the Greek‑Cypriot south and the Turkish‑Cypriot north. The Greek‑Turkish divide over Cyprus is not merely a domestic issue; it is a nationalistic symbol that informs Greece’s foreign‑policy calculations. Greece has long pursued a claim over Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), hoping to exploit the region’s rich gas deposits. The article links to a separate DW feature on Cyprus, summarizing the island’s political history: from the 1974 Turkish invasion, which led to the creation of the self‑declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to the contemporary diplomatic standoffs over maritime boundaries.

Turkey’s Role in the Eastern Mediterranean

The eastern Mediterranean has emerged as a battleground over energy exploration, with Greece and Turkey both staking claims over maritime zones. Turkey has begun drilling in waters that Greece considers within its EEZ, prompting a diplomatic showdown. The DW article references a Turkish political profile that explains how Ankara’s domestic politics influence its foreign‑policy posture. It points out that Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has become increasingly assertive in the region, seeking to position itself as a key energy hub between the Middle East and Europe.

European Union, Energy and Sovereignty

A recurring theme in the article is Greece’s balancing act between EU commitments and national sovereignty. The European Union’s stance on the Cyprus dispute and the eastern Mediterranean has at times clashed with Greece’s interests, particularly regarding energy exploration and maritime boundaries. The article references a DW piece that discusses the EU’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Greece and Turkey, while also addressing the union’s broader agenda of energy security.

Domestic Challenges: Economy, Demographics and the Future

Beyond foreign‑policy concerns, the article paints a sobering picture of Greece’s domestic challenges. The economy is still fragile after a decade of austerity, the population is aging, and there are high rates of youth unemployment. Syriza’s economic platform still resonates with many voters who are skeptical of neoliberal reforms. Tsipras’s return to the political scene is a sign that Greece is still searching for a stable, inclusive direction.

Conclusion

The DW article offers a comprehensive look at how the political trajectory of Alexis Tsipras and Syriza intertwines with the island’s contested status and the broader geopolitical contest with Turkey. By following the links embedded in the piece—covering Syriza’s anti‑austerity origins, the complex history of Cyprus, and Turkey’s domestic politics—the reader gains a nuanced understanding of the multiple layers that shape Greece’s contemporary politics. The story is still unfolding, and the next election will decide whether Greece will remain firmly aligned with the EU, pursue a more independent foreign policy, or forge a new coalition that redefines its political identity.