PASOK president Nikos Androulakis responded to criticism from Pavlos Geroulanos and Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, clarifying on Action 24 radio that “we must all move in the direction that PASOK supporters want.” Addressing Doukas’ demand for a commitment that PASOK won’t govern with New Democracy, he reiterated that “the decision that victory against New Democracy and political change is the only path has been answered. So I hear questions that don’t need to enter public dialogue, because they have been answered both by me and by PASOK’s bodies.”
Read: PASOK: Tensions after Geroulanos statements on polling “needle” – What he supported on OPEN
Androulakis: Hundreds of people worked to create a costed program with reforms
He specifically emphasized that “I don’t have to answer anything to any PASOK member, because these are issues that have already been answered. The decision that victory against New Democracy and political change is the only path has been answered. So I hear questions that don’t need to enter public dialogue, because they have been answered both by me and by PASOK’s bodies. In PASOK, 34 policy sectors worked all summer.
Hundreds of people worked to create a costed program with reforms. It’s not a program based on the logic of ‘handing out,’ but a program for changing the state, strengthening institutions, a program that enables justice to function without interference, a program that changes the great pressure of indirect taxes that hit the middle class and the most vulnerable Greeks, a program that makes the National Health System and public education strong pillars of the welfare state again. We must all move in the direction that PASOK supporters want. This program must be the gospel of victory in the next elections. And all members must give this fight.”
Androulakis: “Mitsotakis will not avoid defeat in the next national elections”
When asked about Andreas Loverdos joining New Democracy, he commented sarcastically that “the fact that Mr. Mitsotakis pulled Mr. Loverdos out of his drawer two days after the Thessaloniki International Fair, where we presented our program, says a lot. The Fair was a turning point, because New Democracy was saying that allegedly there’s no other solution, only they have a program and officials. And PASOK presented an innovative, serious, documented, costed plan. The Fair is a turning point and we must all work to take our program everywhere. With battles in Parliament and society. And whatever low-level and backstage games – like with Mr. Loverdos – Mr. Mitsotakis sets up, he will not avoid defeat in the next national elections. He’s tired, bored, underestimated and despised the Greek people. And he will pay for it at the ballot box.”
“Our program is costed,” notes Nikos Androulakis
Regarding the program he presented at the Fair, Mr. Androulakis emphasized that “we submitted a costed program, with major reforms for the state, for banks, for tax issues, for demographics and we said that the part concerning the fiscal burden is 2.6 billion euros. When Mr. Mitsotakis in 2018 at the Fair promised horizontal VAT reduction, reduction of various other rates and many other fiscal measures, did he say how much they cost? Do you remember?” “The demand for political change is strong. And as the months pass, it will become even stronger. Political change means New Democracy goes to opposition,” Mr. Androulakis also commented.
He added pointedly regarding the government’s record: “European normality means institutions that function properly, justice that functions properly, a fair tax system, a strong welfare state, politics that sets rules in the market. Has Mr. Mitsotakis achieved any of these? He failed. So political change is needed, to have politics that will make us a normal European state.”
“I am a person who has learned to fight battles. The biggest battles are not intra-party. They are social. I have fought social struggles and have struggled for my country in the European Parliament. My work always opens the way for me. Neither interests, nor dependencies, nor tricks. With the program I presented at the Fair, I tell the Greek people: ‘trust me, trust us, because we can make your life better,'” he added.
Regarding Mr. Panos Routsis’ request to allow the exhumation of his child who was killed in the Tempe rail tragedy and the government’s argument about interference in justice, he noted: “He’s not interfering in justice now, but Mr. Mitsotakis knew how to send a letter to Mr. Dogiakos after the tragedy. When they want to intervene, they intervene, when they don’t want to, they don’t intervene. When they want to, they implement justice decisions.
“I respect and don’t play with justice and institutions”
When they don’t want to, they don’t implement them. And I have the personal example with my vindication at the Council of State whose decision was never implemented by Mr. Mitsotakis. Is the man who doesn’t implement justice decisions giving a lesson on respecting institutions to eleven million Greeks? Is there another Prime Minister in Europe who behaves so arrogantly toward institutions and justice? I respect and don’t play with justice and institutions, as the Prime Minister and New Democracy officials do. This is the key difference.”
Androulakis criticizes postponement of Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting
Meanwhile, commenting on the postponement of the meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he commented sarcastically that “when for days you announce ‘with great fanfare’ that a meeting will take place at the UN with Mr. Erdogan and suddenly it’s postponed, it’s a sign of amateurism. At this level, carelessness is not allowed.”
Also commenting on the Turkish President’s speech at the UN, he said that “Mr. Erdogan essentially says he won’t allow the cable to be laid. He’s not talking about the specific investment, he’s talking generally about all investments that ‘concern’ Turkey in our EEZ. And second, he again referred to the partition of Cyprus. He has aggressive rhetoric against our country. Personally, I don’t see either ‘calm waters’ nor do I see an ‘isolated’ Erdogan, when he meets with Mr. Trump these days as well as other leaders.” “In foreign policy, the government operates with a phase difference, with the result that they try to serve us many things through communication that things are going well, when they’re not,” he concluded on this.
Asked about developments in the Middle East and the ethnic cleansing in Gaza, the PASOK President said: “PASOK is the party that built strong ties with the Arab world and opened the way for the strategic relationship with Israel. Strategic relationship with Israel doesn’t mean complicity in any case. We must unite our voice with all the peoples of Europe, with all the governments of Europe, who are doing what they can to stop the ethnic cleansing unfolding in Gaza.”
“Europe cannot sell such weapons that can be used in ethnic cleansing, genocide”
Finally, he reiterated PASOK’s initiative to update the 2015 Greek Parliament resolution on Palestine, while regarding sanctions against Israel he mentioned that “there is the freezing of the customs connection, it must be done. There is the arms embargo, Germany did it a few days ago, for weapons that can be used in Gaza by Israel. Europe cannot sell such weapons that can be used in ethnic cleansing, genocide. Sanctions on Netanyahu’s ministers and himself who are protagonists in the ethnic cleansing. It’s a proposal from the Commission itself. A tragic situation is unfolding and we must be among the countries that propose these things, that serve them. To stop this slaughter. We want peace in the region.”
