In literature, the five elements of a typical tragedy are Prologue, parados, episode, stasimon, and exodus. In politics, the parameters are slightly different. The Leftist party in Greece is probably in the best position in this regard to elaborate on their defeat in the recent elections. The leftist Syriza government succumbed to a heavy defeat and the Greeks are now trusting upon Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for a welcome change. No wonder, the defeat wasn't a surprising one considering the economic distress of the country along with weak populism based governance.

July 7th has indeed been historic for Greece as the countrymen have voted for a change, a change for the better. Greek politics has no less drama than other European countries. The last few years have witnessed drastic economic ups and downs. The left-wing Syriza government couldn't provide much-needed stability in the country. It was only in 2015 there was a national debate whether the country should opt for a 'Grexit' or not. The debt relief package from the European creditors was always a tight leash for the crippled economy. No doubt, the turbulent economy and bailout agreement haven't helped Greece within the EU framework.

The victory for the centre-right Democratic Party now calls for further speculation on the stance of Greece regarding the EU. There is no denying the fact that cuts in welfare, pensions and the public sector didn't help the Syriza government at all. The Syriza government failed to lead the economy with fiscal discipline. It was only in August last year that Greece made an exit from bailout supervision but the country failed to live up to the reforms it needed to follow.

The defeat of the Syriza government has bigger implications considering the trend of the Western lefts over the last few years. Certainly, it highlights the end of the opportunistic trajectory of the left which has been evident in other European countries as well. It won't be an exaggeration to consider the case of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader of Great Britain. There are ample such examples where left leaders have failed to divert themselves from the traditional populist curve. The trust and credibility showered by the voters on the left leaders hasn't been repaid in governance. The leftist power in Greece miserably failed to showcase or rather 'perform' in their four and half years of reign in power. The vibrant leftward shift in 2015 elections in Greece didn't last another term and the left leaders are to be blamed. Ironically, whether it is Corbyn in Britain or Podemos in Spain or Syriza in Greece - the stories have a common plot altogether. Interestingly, Greece has been the only country in Europe where the left actually governed.

There are opinions that the leftists in Greece failed to appreciate the differences between achievements and power centres while in power. They also had a reality when they had to accept the realities of the reforms even when the popular vote was against it. The Government, in fact, couldn't accept the fact that the rules of the neoliberal world cannot be changed with a popular mandate. It remains to be seen whether the left in Greece can sustain the political space they created four and a half years back. But Kyriakos Mitsotakis doesn't have an easy road ahead. In the election campaign itself, the New Democracy promised tax cuts and reforms along with an appreciable increase in FDI across various sectors. New leadership and a new direction amidst the chorus 'Prime Minister! Prime Minister!', Greece is exploring a new path without the left at present.