A clear political message in the shadow of processes for creating a new party is how Alexis Tsipras’ article in the “Newspaper of Editors” is being interpreted. According to sources, the former prime minister and his team are accelerating related processes in a fluid political environment, with the government under pressure due to successive scandals causing political damage.
Read: Pressure on Tsipras to announce new party by June
Alexis Tsipras: Time for accountability approaches
The article, titled “Time for accountability approaches,” appears to reference the former prime minister’s next moves and his vision for the future of the opposition and the progressive camp. Alexis Tsipras speaks of the need for “fundamental reconstruction” of the political space, aiming to form a new, strong and governing Left.
Indeed, Alexis Tsipras characterizes this reconstruction as a “vital necessity,” emphasizing that “the time approaches” for taking responsibility. As he underlines, there is a need for “a major democratic ‘upheaval,’ a fundamental reconstruction of the democratic and progressive space, based on justice, integrity and a new patriotism.” He also clarifies that the existence of a “new and strong governing Left, programmatically cohesive and radically renewed” is a “vital, social and national necessity.”
Alexis Tsipras criticizes “government synonymous with decay”
Simultaneously, Alexis Tsipras strongly criticizes the government on corruption issues, undermining the rule of law and Justice, as well as the management of public and European resources. As he points out, government policies burden citizens’ daily lives, at a time when—according to polls—social discontent and demands for political change are strengthening. However, he emphasizes that discontent alone is not enough if not accompanied by a structured, credible and convincing alternative governance proposal.
Specifically, Mr. Tsipras speaks of a “government synonymous with decay and corruption” that “disgraces the people and democracy, mistreats the rule of law and justice, plunders public and European funds and nurtures lies and fraud as the dominant element of its politics.” Referring to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he comments that he “treats the state like spoils of war, imprisons the Constitution within the limits of his own morality and treats Greeks like political illiterates, or even worse, like willing collaborators and accomplices in generalized lawlessness and cover-up,” while regarding international conditions, he warns that government policies “place Greece in the high-risk zone” and “make it part of the war.”
“There is no opponent”
Alexis Tsipras also criticizes opposition parties. “There is no strong and truly alternative governing force and proposal against the current government. Not complementary, but decisively oppositional,” he characteristically states. “There is no opponent,” he continues, emphasizing: “This is what saves today the most cynical and corrupt government of the post-dictatorship era.” “If something doesn’t change drastically, then even worse things lie ahead for the country and society,” he stresses.
