A young, promising politician emerged from seemingly nowhere to turn New York politics upside down. Zohran Mamdani swept to the NYC democratic mayoral primary nomination in a blitz of optimism, hope and general good vibrations. Media deemed his victory one of the greatest political upsets of modern time. To us Greeks, the surprise might not have been that unexpected.
In the swirling currents of early 21st century politics, few figures have captured the imagination of the electorate quite like Alexis Tsipras, the former prime minister of Greece. A charismatic leader, Tsipras rose to power in January 2015 with the promise of radical change, embodying a vision that resonated with many disillusioned citizens. His leftist agenda, tinged with socialist-communist ideals, painted a picture of a fairer, more equitable society. However, as history has shown, charm and promise do not always translate into effective governance…