The River (Greece)
{{Short description|Greek political party}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = The River
| logo = To Potami logo 2019.svg
| colorcode = {{party color|The River (Greece)}}
| leader = Stavros Theodorakis
| foundation = {{start date|2014|02|26|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.macropolis.gr/?i=portal.en.politics.1006|title=Another party arrives on Greece's increasingly diffuse political scene|website=MacroPolis.gr|date=5 March 2014|access-date=15 March 2014}}
| dissolved = 24 November 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.gr/news/politiki/story/197736/potami-titloi-teloys-gia-to-komma-toy-stayroy-theodoraki|title=Ποτάμι: Τίτλοι τέλους για το κόμμα του Σταύρου Θεοδωράκη|website=CNN|date=18 November 2019|access-date=25 November 2019}}
| merged =
| ideology = Social liberalism{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|title=Greece|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/greece.html|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|date=2019}}
Social democracy{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/greek-election-2015-syriza-new-democracy|title=Greek election 2015: everything you need to know|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 September 2015|access-date=29 June 2016}}
| website = {{official URL}}
| country = Greece
| native_name = Το Ποτάμι
| native_name_lang = el
| position = {{nowrap|Centre to centre-left{{cite book|author=Peter Siani-Davies|title=Crisis in Greece|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2lNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA230|year=2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-091121-8|page=230}}}}
| national = KINAL (2017–2019)
| european =
| europarl = Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (2014–2019)
}}
File:Stavros Theodorakis 2014a cropped.jpg, founder of To Potami]]
The River ({{langx|el|Το Ποτάμι|To Potami}}, {{IPA|el|to poˈtami|IPA}}) was a centrist{{cite book|author=Stathis N. Kalyvas|chapter=So long, austerity? Syriza's victory and the future of the Eurozone|editor=Gideon Rose|title=Europe's Monetary (Dis)union|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cB5NCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT203|year=2015|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations, Inc.|isbn=978-0-87609-638-3|page=203}}{{cite book|author=Aris Trantidis|title=Clientelism and Economic Policy: Greece and the Crisis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hCQRDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA219|year=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-32660-1|page=219}} and social-liberal{{cite book|author=Hendrik Träger|chapter=Die Europawahl 2014 als second-order election|editor1=Michael Kaeding|editor2=Niko Switek|title=Die Europawahl 2014: Spitzenkandidaten, Protestparteien, Nichtwähler|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kURvBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41|year=2015|publisher=Springer-Verlag|isbn=978-3-658-05738-1|page=41}} political party in Greece. The party was founded in February 2014 by Stavros Theodorakis. The party did not run in the 2019 elections and had no seats in the Hellenic Parliament.
History
=Party foundation=
The party was launched on 11 March 2014 in Athens by TV presenter Stavros Theodorakis.{{cite news|title=Griechische Flusslehre|first=Michael|last=Martens|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date=23 January 2015|page=3|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/europa/griechenland-parlamentswahlen-syriza-laut-umfragen-vorn-13385454.html|access-date=26 January 2015|language=de}}
=2014 European Parliament election=
In April 2014, representatives of The River met the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, and with representatives of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and The Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) parliamentary groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/new-party-shakes-greek-political-scene-301531|title=New party shakes Greek political scene|date=14 April 2014|website=Euractiv.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}
In the 2014 European Parliament election held on 25 May 2014, the party received 6.6% of the national vote and the mandate to elect two MEPs, Giorgos Grammatikakis and Miltos Kyrkos.
On 27 May 2014, the two incoming MEPs announced their decision to sit with the S&D group in the European Parliament, whose intake included two MEPs from the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK),{{cite web |url=http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.politics&id=1973 |title=Potami to sit with Pasok in European parliament |author= |date=27 May 2014 |newspaper=Eleftherotypia |access-date=27 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.amna.gr/english/articleview.php?id=6118 |title=ANA-MPA: Potami party MEPs to join Socialists and Democrats group in EuroParliament |website=Amna.gr |access-date=2014-08-11}} citing the group's commitment to "tackling the recession and unemployment in Greece and the South in general",{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/05/2014_540073|title=Greece's Potami party to sit in same EU group as PASOK|work=Kathimerini|date=2014-05-27|access-date=2014-12-31}} while ruling out joining the Party of European Socialists.{{cite news|last=Nikolouli |first=Sotiria |url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/05/28/potami-party-meps-to-join-socialists-and-democrats-group-in-europarliament/ |title=Potami Party MEPs to Join Socialists and Democrats Group in EuroParliament | GreekReporter.com |newspaper=Greekreporter.com |publisher=Greek Reporter|date=2014-05-28 |access-date=2014-08-11}}
=2015 legislative elections=
On 24 December 2014, the newly founded party Reformers for Democracy and Development of former Democratic Left (DIMAR) MP Spyros Lykoudis announced an alliance with The River.{{cite web|title=The Reformists, To Potami Join Forces|work=The National Herald|url=http://www.thenationalherald.com/70215/|url-access=subscription |date=26 December 2014|access-date=26 January 2015}}
On 5 January 2015, the Liberal Alliance party suspended talks about a joint electoral list with The River after the participation of Liberal Alliance's president Gregory Vallianatos had reportedly been ruled out by The River officials.{{cite web|url=http://www.liberalmonitor.gr/liberal-monitor-news/news-greece/342-liberal-alliance-ends-talks-with-the-river.html|title=Liberal Alliance ends talks with The River|work=Greek Liberal Monitor|date=2015-01-05|access-date=2015-01-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710124503/http://www.liberalmonitor.gr/liberal-monitor-news/news-greece/342-liberal-alliance-ends-talks-with-the-river.html|archive-date=10 July 2015|df=dmy-all}} Later, The River's leader Theodorakis and Theodoros Skylakakis, the leader of the liberal party Drasi, gave a joint press conference announcing a joint electoral list for the forthcoming legislative election.{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_06/01/2015_545968|title=Drasi leader urges party members to stand with Potami|work=Kathimerini|date=2015-01-06|access-date=2015-01-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sofokleous10.gr/greek-news/294452-liberal-drasi-party-joins-forces-with-to-potami-in-upcoming-general-elections|title=Liberal Drasi party joins forces with To Potami in upcoming general elections|date=2015-01-06|access-date=2015-01-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107083604/http://www.sofokleous10.gr/greek-news/294452-liberal-drasi-party-joins-forces-with-to-potami-in-upcoming-general-elections|archive-date=7 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}
In the January 2015 legislative election on 25 January 2015, The River received 6.1% of the electoral vote, finishing fourth place with a mandate for 17 seats in the Hellenic Parliament. In the aftermath of the election party leader Theodorakis stressed that Greece needed to avoid another snap election,{{cite web|title=What Now for Greece After Anti-Bailout Syriza Wins Vote?|first=Nikos|last=Chrysoloras|website=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/what-now-for-greece-after-anti-bailout-syriza-wins-vote-.html|date=26 January 2015|access-date=26 January 2015}} and, while ready to talk with SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras about forming a coalition government,{{cite web|title=Stavros Theodorakis: "The country needs major alliances"|work=To Vima|url=http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=670712|date=26 January 2015|access-date=26 January 2015}} he said they wouldn't support any coalition that includes anti-European forces. The River became part of the parliamentary opposition to the governing first Tsipras cabinet.
In the second election of the year, the September 2015 legislative election on 20 September 2015, the party received a reduced vote count of 4.1%, receiving 11 seats,{{cite news|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/09/21/greek-elections-official-final-results/|title=Greek Elections: Official Final Results - GreekReporter.com|newspaper=Greekreporter.com|date=21 September 2015|access-date=26 August 2018|last1=Papapostolou |first1=Anastasios }} remaining in opposition.
=Resignations=
On 19 April 2016, Yiannis Theoharis resigned from To Potami's parliamentary group.{{cite web|url=http://www.megatv.com/megagegonota/article.asp?catid=27371&subid=2&pubid=35820977|title=Megatv.com|website=Megatv.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}
On 18 October 2016, Iasonas Fotilas was expelled from the party.{{cite web|url=http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/o-theodorakis-diegrapse-ton-fotila-apo-potami|title=Ο Θεοδωράκης διέγραψε τον βουλευτή Φωτήλα από το Ποτάμι|website=Tvxs.gr|access-date=26 August 2018}} On 24 January 2017, he joined New Democracy.[http://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/648093/stin-nea-dimokratia-o-iason-fotilas/ Στη Νέα Δημοκρατία ο Ιάσων Φωτήλας]
On 21 November 2016, Katerina Markou declared herself an independent.{{cite web|url=http://www.kathimerini.gr/884487/article/epikairothta/politikh/apoxwrhse-apo-to-potami-h-katerina-markoy---h-apanthsh-8eodwrakh|title=Αποχώρησε από το Ποτάμι η Κατερίνα Μάρκου - Η απάντηση Θεοδωράκη - Kathimerini|website=Kathimerini.gr|date=21 November 2016 |access-date=26 August 2018}} On 27 February 2018, she joined New Democracy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsbeast.gr/politiki/arthro/3350228/proschori-sti-nd-i-katerina-markou|script-title=el:Προσχωρεί στη ΝΔ η Κατερίνα Μάρκου|date=2018-02-27|newspaper=Newsbeast.gr|language=el-GR|access-date=2018-02-27}}
On 13 January 2017, Rodopi MP Ilhan Ahmet became the fourth MP elected in the September 2015 general election to resign from the party. He later announced he was joining the Democratic Alignment parliamentary group.{{Cite news|url=http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/336014/se-pasok-dimar-ki-episimos-o-ilhan-ahmet-meta-tin-apohorisi-apo-to-potami/|title=Σε ΠΑΣΟΚ-ΔΗΜΑΡ κι επισήμως ο Ιλχάν Αχμέτ μετά την αποχώρηση από το Ποτάμι|website=Skai.gr|access-date=2017-01-13}}
On 7 February 2017, Larissa MP Konstantinos Bargiotas resigned from the party, indicating that he would join the Democratic Alignment parliamentary group.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kathimerini.gr/895170/article/epikairothta/politikh/nea-apwleia-gia-to-potami-ane3arthtopoih8hke-o-voyleyths-k-mpargiwtas|title=Νέα απώλεια για το Ποτάμι: Ανεξαρτητοποιήθηκε ο βουλευτής Κ. Μπαργιώτας, του Κωνσταντίνου Ζούλα {{!}} Kathimerini|access-date=2017-02-07|language=el}}
=Movement for Change=
{{Main|2017 Greek centre-left leadership election}}
In July 2017, PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata announced the formation of a new centre-left party before the end of the year.{{cite news|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/07/01/new-center-left-party-to-be-formed-by-december-in-greece/|title=New Center-Left Party to Be Formed by December in Greece - GreekReporter.com|newspaper=Greekreporter.com|date=July 2017|access-date=26 August 2018|last1=Chrysopoulos |first1=Philip }} In the summer of 2017, Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis decided to participate in the creation of the party to provide an alternative to Syriza, led by prime minister Alexis Tsipras, and New Democracy, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis. A leadership election for the new party will be held on 12 November and 19 November 2017, with initially 10 candidates declaring their participation, including Theodorakis.{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/221508/article/ekathimerini/news/ten-candidates-line-up-for-top-job--in-center-left-party|title=Ten candidates line up for top job in center-left party |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}} After the leadership election both Potami and PASOK–DIMAR will continue to have separate parliamentary groups until the new party's founding congress in spring 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/222843/article/ekathimerini/news/theodorakis-outlines-road-map-for-new-center-left-party|title=Theodorakis outlines road map for new center-left party |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/222821/article/ekathimerini/news/center-left-candidate-shoots-barbs-after-televised-debate|title=Center-left candidate shoots barbs after televised debate |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}
On the first stage open primary election on 12 November 2017, Theodorakis came in fourth place with 9.8% of the vote, failing to reach the second round.
{{cite news|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/11/12/fofi-gennimata-closes-in-on-leadership-of-new-centre-left-party-in-greece/|title=Fofi Gennimata Closes in on Leadership of New Centre-Left Party in Greece - GreekReporter.com|newspaper=Greekreporter.com|date=12 November 2017|access-date=26 August 2018|last1=Kokkinidis |first1=Tasos }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/223186/article/ekathimerini/news/gennimata-androulakis-head-for-center-left-leader-election-runoff-upd|title=Gennimata, Androulakis head for center-left leader poll runoff |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}} The run-off election on 19 November was won by Gennimata with 56% of the vote, with the new party's official foundation scheduled for 2018.{{cite news|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/11/20/new-center-left-coalition-party-elects-pasok-leader-fofi-gennimata/|title=New Center-Left Coalition Party Elects PASOK Leader Fofi Gennimata - GreekReporter.com|newspaper=Greekreporter.com|date=20 November 2017|access-date=26 August 2018|last1=Ioannou |first1=Theo }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/223420/article/ekathimerini/news/gennimata-elected-leader-of-the-center-left-party-to-be-created|title=Gennimata elected leader of the center-left party to be created |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}
On 2 December 2017, Theodorakis was announced as being part of the six-member ruling council for the new party, the Movement for Change (KINAL).{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/223799/article/ekathimerini/news/center-left-reveals-members-of-top-decision-making-body|title=Center-left reveals members of top decision-making body |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}
=Aftermath=
On 1 July 2018, The River exited from KINAL due to issues including disagreements between Theodorakis and Gennimata over the Macedonia naming dispute.{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/230242/article/ekathimerini/news/potami-drops-out-of-movement-for-change-alliance|title=Potami drops out of Movement for Change alliance |website=Ekathimerini.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/07/02/greek-centrist-potami-quits-pasok-led-coalition/|title=Greek Centrist Potami Quits PASOK-Led Coalition |newspaper=Greekreporter.com|date=2 July 2018 |access-date=26 August 2018|last1=Kokkinidis |first1=Tasos }}
In the 2019 European Parliament election on 26 May 2019, To Potami received just 1.5% of the national vote, failing to return any MEPs. Following the result, party leader Stavros Theodorakis announced that the party would not participate in the 2019 legislative election as well as his resignation as leader.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/241037/article/ekathimerini/news/potami-throws-in-the-towel-after-eu-election-battering|title=Potami throws in the towel after EU election battering {{!}} Kathimerini|website=www.ekathimerini.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-07}}
Ideology
Following its launch, To Potami was initially described by the media as pro-European and centrist,{{cite news|last=Konstandaras|first=Nikos|title=From Pericles to Potami|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/opinion/konstandaras-from-pericles-to-potami.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=24 April 2014|quote=...Potami’s pro-European Union, centrist policies...}} inspired by social democracy and social liberalism{{cite web|url=http://www.capital.gr/news.asp?id=2052469|title=River: Between social democracy and liberalism|website=Capital.gr|date=29 June 2014|access-date=24 September 2014}} and heavily reliant on Theodorakis' personal popularity to attract voters. It has been also described as liberal.{{Cite book |last=Bale |first=Tim |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1256593260 |title=Riding the populist wave: Europe's mainstream right in crisis |date=2021 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |others=Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser |isbn=978-1-009-00686-6 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |pages=34 |oclc=1256593260}} The general description of the party's political position ranged from centrist{{cite news|last=Mandravelis|first=Paschos|title=Tight election campaign prompts copycat ads|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite4_1_21/01/2015_546409|work=Kathimerini|date=21 January 2015|quote=...Potami, the centrist party...}}{{cite news|last=Barber|first=Tony|title=Greek political dynasties will bide their time|url=http://blogs.ft.com/the-world/2015/01/greek-political-dynasties-will-bide-their-time/|work=Financial Times|date=21 January 2015|quote=...To Potami (“The River”), a new, anti-corruption, centrist party.}}{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Mason (journalist)|title=Inside Syriza's economic brain|url=http://blogs.channel4.com/paul-mason-blog/greece-syriza-election/2941|agency=Channel 4|date=20 January 2015|quote=...To Potami (The River) which I can best describe as a Blairite modernising centrist party...}} to centre-left.{{cite book|author=Wayne C. Thompson|title=Western Europe 2015-2016|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-apcCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA282|year=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4758-1885-7|page=282}}{{cite news|title=Greek elections: Main parties from Syriza to Golden Dawn explained|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30913028|agency=BBC News|date=21 January 2015|quote=The River (To Potami) is a moderate centre-left party}}
Election results
=Hellenic Parliament=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%; line-height:16px;" |
| width="60" rowspan="2" | Election
! colspan="5"| Hellenic Parliament ! width="30" rowspan="2" | Rank ! width="125" rowspan="2" | Government ! rowspan="2"| Leader |
|---|
| width="75" | Votes
! width="45" | % ! width="45" | ±pp ! width="100" | Seats won ! width="40" | +/− |
| January 2015
| 373,868 | 6.1% | New | {{Composition bar|17|300|hex={{party color|The River (Greece)}}}} | {{increase}}17 | #4 | {{No2|Opposition}} |
| September 2015
| 222,166 | 4.1% | -2.0 | {{Composition bar|11|300|hex={{party color|The River (Greece)}}}} | {{decrease}}6 | #6 | {{No2|Opposition}} |
| 2019
| Did not run | – | -4.1 | {{Composition bar|0|300|hex={{party color|The River (Greece)}}}} | {{decrease}}11 | – | {{Eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}} |
=European Parliament=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%; line-height:16px;" |
| colspan="8"|European Parliament |
|---|
| width="60" | Election
! width="75" | Votes ! width="45" | % ! width="45" | ±pp ! width="100" | Seats won ! width="30" | +/− ! width="30" | Rank ! Leader |
| 2014
| 377,438 | 6.6% | New | {{Composition bar|2|21|hex={{party color|The River (Greece)}}}} | {{increase}}2 | #5 |
| 2019
| 86,003 | 1.5% | -5.1 | {{Composition bar|0|21|hex={{party color|The River (Greece)}}}} | {{decrease}}2 | #9 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website}} {{in lang|el}}
{{Liberalism in Greece}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:River}}
Category:Liberal parties in Greece
Category:Social democratic parties in Greece
Category:Secular parties in Greece
Category:Multicultural parties in Greece
Category:Social liberal parties
Category:2014 establishments in Greece
Category:2014 in Greek politics
Category:Political parties established in 2014
Category:2019 in Greek politics
Category:Political parties disestablished in 2019
Category:Parties represented in the European Parliament