The expulsion of Nikolas Farantouris from SYRIZA was a clear message to all those from the Koumoundourou party who appear to be “flirting” with the political plans of Maria Karystianos to clarify their position. Yesterday, Larissa MP Vasilis Kokkalis and MEP Elena Kountourá made it clear that they are SYRIZA members and do not intend to abandon the party.
In short, what Nikolas Farantouris failed to do – clarify his position regarding SYRIZA – was done yesterday by Vasilis Kokkalis, who said that “the fact that I expressed myself positively and will continue to express myself positively, because I am obligated by my conscience to present what I experienced in the Investigative Committee, cannot mean other things,” he added, clarifying that related media reports are not true. Commenting on Maria Karystianos’s statement about Alexis Tsipras and the third memorandum, he replied: “There I will disagree with Ms. Karystianos, because we know that Tsipras is not responsible for the country’s bankruptcy, despite the mistakes he made and we made.” Regarding whether he would respond positively to the possibility of forming a party by the former prime minister, he left every possibility open. “What you know, I know. I cannot tell you anything at this moment.”
On the other hand, sources from Elena Kountourá’s office said she “does not respond to fake news” and added that she continues her work as a SYRIZA MEP. Elena Kountourá became involved in the story as she also appears distanced from SYRIZA while maintaining a close relationship with Maria Karystianos, having participated in three events organized by SYRIZA MEPs regarding Tempe.
Criticism of SYRIZA and Famellos from Farantouris
Meanwhile, two days after his expulsion from SYRIZA, Nikolas Farantouris went on the counteroffensive, essentially criticizing his former party for Sokratis Famellos’s choice to expel him. The now independent MEP indirectly criticized the party leadership for low polling numbers, saying he is not responsible for SYRIZA’s declining polls, which considers anyone who welcomes a political initiative from a person like Maria Karystianos as disposable. Nikolas Farantouris’s stance has obviously caused great surprise among party members, as they point out that no member except Stefanos Kasselakis has spoken against their former party.
Although Koumoundourou members have much to say, they avoid entering into a public discussion with the former SYRIZA MEP. They did not even comment on his observation that he doesn’t even know if SYRIZA will go to the next elections as a party and essentially called on Koumoundourou to clarify its thoughts. Regarding the European Parliament seat – obviously finding himself in a difficult position since he had previously called on members who left Koumoundourou to surrender their seats – he said that “SYRIZA cannot talk about seats, let it first decide what it will do in the elections.” The truth, however, is that despite what is being heard, no one can say with certainty that Nikolas Farantouris will align with Maria Karystianos and will be a candidate for the European Parliament in 2028 as he desires. And this is because time is dense with events while Maria Karystianos does not show any strong stability regarding her collaborators.
