The Rise and Fall of a Green Party:

The Greek Ecologist Greens (2009-2014)

Vasilis Leontitsis

Sheffield, 01 April 2015

PSA 65th Annual International Conference

Research questions

Why did the Ecologist Greens become the most successful Green party in the history of Greece?

Why didn’t it achieve a breakthrough in the end?

What are the reasons for the party’s subsequent demise?

Methodology

Fieldwork June 2015: A number of interviews with previous and current high ranking members of the Green Party (in both Athens and Thessaloniki).

Party elections manifestos, newspaper articles, party press releases.

Analysis of national pre-election surveys.

Secondary literature: Extremely limited.

Theoretical Framework

Historical Institutionalism(Particularly elements related to path dependence and timing)

Inglehart (1977; 1990; 1997) (Post-materialist political culture)

Kitschelt (1989)(A theoretical framework for Green parties and their evolution - Realos vs. Fundis (?); Problematic in the EG’s case – See later)

A short history of Green party politics in Greece

THE FEDERATION OF ECOLOGIST ALTERNATIVES (FEA)

1989: Foundation of FEA

November 1989 National Elections: 0.58% - 1MP

April 1990 National Elections: 0.77% - 1MP

1992: The party dissolves

A short history of Green party politics in Greece

REASONS FOR THE DOWNFALL OF FEA

Nebulous ideology

Made up of a number of extremely diverse groups

Organizational issues (direct representation, rotation etc.)

Prospects of taking part in a Left coalition government

The “Macedonian” issue

A short history of Green party politics in Greece

THE ECOLOGIST GREENS

Founded in 2002.

Did not contest the 2004 national elections.

It started participating in the national elections from 2007 onwards.

Some initial electoral success reaching its peak in the 2009 European elections.

National Elections ResultsYear 2007 2009 May

2012June2012

2015

Result 1.05% 2.53% 2.93% 0.88% Supported SYRIZA

2007 2009 41030 410610

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Result

Threshold

European Elections ResultsYear 2004 2009 2014

Result 0.67%% 3.49% 0.90%

2004 2009 20140

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

ResultsThreshold

EXTERNAL FACTORS

Initially favourable: Great dissatisfaction with the established political parties (PASOK, ND).

New protest parties soon fill in the vacuum – Especially SYRIZA.

Increasing environmental awareness (see forest fires – 2007).

Later on the economic crisis becomes the dominant issue.

3% threshold – The party fails to surpass. Wasted vote (?)

Preliminary Findings (1)

Preliminary Findings (2) INTERNAL FACTORS (similarities to FEA)

Unclear and contrasting ideology (Left or Centre)

Vague response to the economic crisis (De growth and anti-austerity)

Continuous organizational misgivings (i.e. lack of clear leadership, issues related to party membership)

Acute fragmentation (fratricide wars between different groups)

Continuous party quarrels based on selfish and self-promoting behaviour (self-promotion and political games vs. ideology or pragmatism) – Party splits

ConclusionsA window of opportunity opened (2007 onwards)

that the party did not exploit.(The end of the Metapolitefsis (end of the two-party system + fragmentation) did not benefit the Greens) Material Post-material

Realos vs. Fundis ✗(Personal ambitions + party dominance politics)

THANK YOU