Ultimately, the audiences in Crete proved far more receptive and open to Alexis Tsipras’ message than his closest associates had anticipated.
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Tsipras: The message from his contacts in Crete
The majority of people Alexis Tsipras met with conveyed a clear message: there is still much work to be done to familiarize citizens with the positions and views of his new party across all issues. At the same time, they did not hesitate to reflect on the past, noting that Tsipras had left a positive impression during his time as Prime Minister — demonstrating a genuine ability to listen and understand the concerns of ordinary people.
Tsipras from Crete: “Others bankrupted the country — we got it out of the bailouts”
During his contacts with residents of Crete, the leader of ELAS sought to address and clarify his party’s past record, while arguing that current government policy mirrors the very approach that once led the country to bankruptcy. Notably, during his visit to Gergeri, speaking in the village square while listening to the concerns of farmers and livestock breeders, Tsipras declared: “Others bankrupted the country — we got it out of the bailouts.”
He went on to add: “What led us to bankruptcy was two things: the country stopped producing, and it was driven into insolvency through clientelism, corruption, and graft. And that is exactly the policy being followed today. The same two elements that pushed us into bankruptcy in 2009 — corruption, graft, clientelism, cronyism — combined with zero productive output. Zero — I don’t want to exaggerate, but that is the country’s fundamental problem. It doesn’t produce, and a country that doesn’t produce cannot have a future or any prospects.”
Turning to the Recovery Fund and the €36 billion that has been at the current government’s disposal, the former Prime Minister remarked: “If any of you have seen a single euro go toward resilience and recovery, please let me know.” Reflecting on the years of SYRIZA governance, he added: “We collected every last euro to put into the state’s coffers, and yes, that made us unpopular — that’s the truth. We weren’t masochists. We had no desire to commit political suicide. We had a national objective: to save the country. The money we collected went into the public treasury. We didn’t pocket it, we didn’t take kickbacks. We didn’t hand out direct contracts or run closed tenders. Every euro went into the public coffers.”
Tsipras fires back over cost of living, the Recovery Fund, and OPEKEPE
On the issue of the cost of living, Tsipras emphasized that it is eating away at citizens’ incomes. “Greece is at the top of the list when it comes to the cost of living — electricity, fuel, supermarkets, banking fees — everywhere,” he stressed, adding that the coming winter will be particularly difficult.
He also took a pointed swipe at the OPEKEPE scandal, saying: “Do we have Kolonaki farmers? Because there are certain people — some of your own acquaintances — who spend their days and nights at Zonar’s sipping frappés or espressos — I’m not sure what they’re drinking. Yes, we have people like that too, but that’s not where production happens. Production happens out in the countryside.” He underlined that this kind of change does not happen overnight, but “requires a plan, persistence, time, and the willingness to absorb the political cost. Because I came here today to tell you the truth, not to make promises: we are going nowhere — not in livestock farming, not in agricultural production — unless we link subsidies to actual output. And unless we put real weight behind production.”
Tsipras closes the rift with Androulakis — Karterou’s new intervention and sharp criticism of PASOK
Meanwhile, the controversy sparked by an article written by Thanasis Karterou — in which he referred to Nikos Androulakis as a “fool” if he believes he can defeat New Democracy by just one percentage point — has also been put to rest.
Beyond Alexis Tsipras himself, who in an interview stressed that he has never personally attacked Androulakis or PASOK — since his true political opponent is Kyriakos Mitsotakis — Thanasis Karterou also published a follow-up article offering clarification. “My pen, my signature, my responsibility — and any mistake is mine alone,” he wrote characteristically. At the same time, he doubled down on his criticism of Nikos Androulakis, asking “who exactly does he intend to align with?”, accusing him of “burning bridges with ELAS” while noting that “we all know what happens with the other forces on this side of the spectrum.” He concluded: “Take a good look at the democratic citizens and explain yourself, as the song goes: Who are you planning to go with, and who are you planning to leave behind? How is change going to come about? On these questions… there is nothing but fog.”
