The leftist opposition, which is neck-and-neck in opinion polls with Mr. Samaras's conservative New Democracy party, has decried four years of austerity in Greece as "slavery imposed by the troika".
It has run into a deep and well-deserved depression recently, but no one doubts that the larger leftist family, which is still hugely influential in the media and education, will continue.
Apart from the personal hardship that many church-goers are facing because of a lingering economic crisis, they face a new uncertainty in the coming months the possible advent of a leftist government which is committed to separating church and state in what has hitherto been one of the most "theocratic" countries in Europe.
"Yes, it is terrible to be forced to cut pensions and wages, but what we are trying to avoid is indescribable," he said, responding to criticism from the leftist opposition, which is enjoying a rise in popularity as the Socialists fall from favor.
The main opposition, joining forces with an alliance of leftist parties which is part of the ruling coalition, called for a national strike on May 2 in protest over the incident.
But while Bernie Bro madness might take away focus from building a larger leftist movement, which is surely vital for 2020 success, having a cult of personality didn't hurt the last two men who won national elections.
On January 19, he became the official Party of the Democratic Revolution PRDD) candidate for Mayor of Mexico City, running against Alejandra Barrales, Gerardo Fernández Noroña, Martí Batres and Joel Ortega Cuevas, representing the leftist Progressive Movement coalition, which is formed by the PRD party, the Labor Party, and the Citizen's Movement Party.
The holdup also prompted renewed criticism of Mr. Samaras and of Greece's foreign bailout by Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the leftist opposition party Syriza, which is leading in opinion polls.
The Trump administration has gained regional support for its ever-stricter sanctions on the leftist government of Venezuela, which is battling a humanitarian disaster and political chaos.
He later accepted a position as a human rights adviser to the government of Colombia, which is fighting leftist rebels and powerful drug lords.
