Former leader of the “Kosmos” party and former MEP Petros Kokkalis confirmed that discussions are taking place with Alexis Tsipras’ ELAS party, speaking on Parapolitika 90.1 radio show “On Air” with journalist Niki Lyberaki. He specifically stated that “we have been in the same political space for a long time,” noting that the new party aims to form a coalition “more capable of claiming power” in the country.
Excerpts from Petros Kokkalis’ interview on Parapolitika 90.1
Among other points, he emphasized:
When asked about his departure from the KOSMOS party and the possibility of aligning with Tsipras
P. KOKKALIS: It was a very difficult decision, but I believe this is a critical moment and there needs to be an honest, innovative, and “reconstructive” effort to create a pole of opposition against New Democracy.
P. KOKKALIS: There is a widespread political demand to overcome fragmentation. […] What I’m always seeking is to participate, to belong to a functional and creative community. I have the ambition to be useful, I don’t have any personal ambition or need for a position or office – I want to help create a cohesive programmatic vision for a more just and greener Greece.
When asked if discussions with ELAS are taking place
P. KOKKALIS: Of course discussions are happening, we have been in the same space for a very long time.
P. KOKKALIS: Polls confirm what we’ve been hearing for years: “do something, get together and create something we can participate in and try to build the Greece we all believe in together.” This new coalition came to answer this line of anguish, and that’s why it holds this position in the polls.
P. KOKKALIS: I believe the creation of ELAS responds to this anguish and the need to create a more politically competitive coalition, more tested, more capable of claiming power in our country, and obviously the other parties are making their adjustments in response to this.
