Editing Antonis Samaras (section)

=== Return to New Democracy ===
Political Spring did not participate in the [[2000 Greek legislative election|2000 general election]]; Samaras publicly supported the New Democracy party. Before the [[2004 Greek legislative election|2004 general election]], Samaras dissolved his party, rejoined New Democracy and he was elected a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) in the [[2004 European Parliament election in Greece|2004 European elections]].

In the [[2007 Greek legislative election|2007 general election]] he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for [[Messinia]] and consequently resigned from the [[European Parliament]]. He was succeeded by [[Margaritis Schinas]]. In January 2009 he was appointed [[Minister for Culture (Greece)|Minister of Culture]] following a government reshuffle. In this capacity he inaugurated the new [[Acropolis Museum]] in July 2009. He was reelected in Messenia in 2009.

After New Democracy resoundingly lost the [[2009 Greek legislative election|2009 legislative election]], [[Kostas Karamanlis]] resigned as head of the party, prompting a [[2009 New Democracy leadership election|leadership race]], and Samaras ran for the post. Early polls showed he was running neck-and-neck with the perceived initial favorite [[Dora Bakoyanni]], the former Foreign Minister and former Athens mayor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/37442/bakoyannis_holds_slim_lead_in_greeceaas_nd_race/ |title=Bakoyannis Holds Slim Lead in Greece's ND Race |publisher=Angus Reid |date=1 November 2009 |access-date=6 November 2009 |archive-date=17 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617100737/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/37442/bakoyannis_holds_slim_lead_in_greeceaas_nd_race/ |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, another leadership candidate, former Minister [[Dimitris Avramopoulos]], announced he was resigning his candidacy and would instead support Samaras. In a break with previous practice, an extraordinary party congress resolved that the new leader would be elected by party members in a countrywide ballot. Samaras' candidacy soared in opinion polls and finished the race as a favorite.