The Radical party naturally led the political life of Zakynthos in the years immediately after the island's unification with Greece. The opposition for its part, the Plutocrats and remnants of English interests, tried in every possible way to discredit and topple Lombardos and his party, charging mismanagement and ineptitude.
Nevertheless, the road to progress was open. Industry and commerce began to develop quickly, ensuring the development of a proper middle class. Until the Gulf of Corinth was opened up for shipping, the geographical position of the island made Zakynthos harbour a focal point for imports, exports, and the trans-shipment of merchandise to Western Greece.
In national terms, the fate of Zakynthos and the other Eptanissos isles was now indissolubly linked with that of the rest of Greece. The people fully played their part in the wars of the twentieth century, and contributed significantly to the resistance movements during the Italian and German occupations in World War 2.