The Tempe tragedy has unleashed a wave of public discontent, exposing deep frustration with the government’s actions—or lack thereof—over recent years. In its wake, an unexpected political shift has emerged, reshaping the landscape in surprising ways.
The small leftist party Course for Freedom, once hovering around 4% in support just months ago, has surged to approximately 14% in the latest polls, securing second place. This rapid rise has thrust the party, centered entirely on the dynamic and polarizing figure of Zoe Konstantopoulou, into the spotlight as a formidable contender.
Konstantopoulou, widely known simply as Zoe, founded Course for Freedom after breaking away from SYRIZA in late 2015. A former speaker of the Greek Parliament, she has long been a commanding presence, and her party’s recent gains suggest she’s tapping into a broader sentiment. With the center-left in disarray—PASOK struggling to seize the government’s missteps and SYRIZA faltering in its post-Tsipras reinvention—Course for Freedom has found fertile ground.
Her sharp legal mind and rhetorical prowess, honed through graduate studies at the Sorbonne and Columbia, have fueled powerful parliamentary performances that resonate widely. Even her critics acknowledge her skill. Today, her appeal stretches beyond traditional leftist circles, drawing in right-wing voters with her impassioned patriotic tone.
Some, including voices within the ruling New Democracy party, view her surge as a fleeting phenomenon. They note the immediate advantage it offers them—further splintering PASOK and SYRIZA—but may be underestimating its deeper implications. Skeptics wonder if Konstantopoulou’s trajectory mirrors that of Germany’s Sahra Wagenknecht, whose breakaway party briefly soared before fading, ultimately failing to secure parliamentary seats in recent elections.
Whether Zoe’s momentum endures or fizzles remains uncertain. What’s undeniable, however, is that her rise has added a new layer of complexity to an already intricate opposition and the wider political stage.