The events unfolding behind the scenes regarding the transformation of the “Tempe movement” into an organized political party under the leadership of Maria Karystianos have taken on the dimensions of a political thriller.
In recent days, it has become evident that the peculiar oath of silence, with elements of conspiratorial action, upon which the entire operation was built, has been broken by some “opportunistic” initiates in the Tempe “Secret Society,” headquartered at the sanctuary of 12 Karneadou Street. This address houses the law office of Maria Gratsia, Maria Karystianos’ legal counsel, which has been operating for months as the “operational” headquarters for the diverse activities of the “Tempe movement.” This particular lawyer and former politician of D. Natsios’ “Victory” party is considered – along with others – a key figure in introducing Maria Karystianos to former New Democracy Political Planning Secretary Nikos Karachalios.
Why Nikos Karachalios spoke now about discussions with Maria Karystianos
The latter has now become persona non grata for the Karneadou Street headquarters, as he publicly came forward and “testified” that he was invited to that specific location last summer in his capacity as a professional strategic and communications consultant to collaborate with Maria Karystianos’ close associates in preparing her political party. Certainly, N. Karachalios did not appear as an uninvited visitor during his meetings with M. Karystianos at M. Gratsia’s law office in early July. Prior arrangements were made both with her and with other individuals who were present at different phases of the disputed meetings.
N. Karachalios claims that in these meetings, which had a somewhat “conspiratorial” character, Maria Karystianos assigned him the preparation of her entry into the political arena. Indeed, after the first appointments on Karneadou Street and in Kolonaki restaurants, N. Karachalios, having warmed up to his role as M. Karystianos’ communications guide, began implementing what he supposedly had agreed with her. These processes culminated in his announcements about “The Wave” as a party model.
But were things really like this, or did he rush to take initiatives unrelated to Maria Karystianos’ wishes, seeking to drag her in a blackmailing way into timetables she didn’t want or couldn’t meet? And ultimately, how much does Ms. Karystianos take into account Karachalios’ approaches, or is she finally aligning with Routsis’ negative stance toward such a prospect?
Who had Nikos Karachalios met with
During the first half of July, a relationship of trust had developed between M. Karystianos’ staff and N. Karachalios. In fact, sources report that at 12 Karneadou Street, other individuals who today surround M. Karystianos’ struggle for “justice” and who have played a leading role in organizing rallies during previous turbulent social periods welcomed him as a communications “guru.” As veterans themselves and coordinators of the “indignant” against the memorandums, then as leaders in protests against the Prespa Agreement, and subsequently, some of them with influential presence in the anti-vaccination movement.
The other individuals N. Karachalios reportedly met or spoke with were: Kyriakos Tompras, a longtime associate of P. Kammenos and the well-known contractor Ch. Kalogritsas, who was also involved through his testimonies in the parliamentary investigative committee on television licenses. Also, Michalis Patsikas, who today serves as M. Karystianos’ informal press representative and previously played a leading role in organizing rallies against the Prespa Agreement, giving interviews as head of the “EPOS” movement, while as soon as the country was hit by the COVID pandemic, he became active in the anti-vaccination movement, allying with Pharmacology professor D. Kouvelas to establish another political entity titled “Breath of Democracy.”
Other individuals became involved in these machinations directly or through third parties, such as former ND MP and head of the “Christian Democratic Movement” N. Nikolopoulos, whom N. Karachalios brought into play, professor-researcher K. Farsalinos, who had also previously expressed objections to vaccines, as well as Criminology professor N. Passas. Some of the aforementioned were present at N. Karachalios’ first meeting with M. Karystianos, as well as a lady, a Harvard graduate by her own account, who, unlike Maria Gratsia, who is guided by Archangel Michael of Panormos, asked N. Karachalios what “zodiac sign” he was in order to “check” whether his participation in the Karneadou “Secret Society” aligned with the prospects of transforming the “Tempe movement” into a political entity.
The Chania speech and the “dismissal” by Karystianos
Let us move past all the above, which contains elements of parapolitics, and see what happened next. On July 24, a historic date as commemorative events for the restoration of Democracy took place, Maria Karystianos had a scheduled speech in Chania. N. Karachalios also traveled to E. Venizelos’ birthplace, believing that M. Karystianos would make significant announcements regarding the creation of a new political entity.
In this context, and feeling like a “central player” in her staff, he took the initiative to contact well-known journalists from central Athens television stations to send cameras to the specific event, because M. Karystianos would announce the establishment of a new political entity. And while all channels mobilized to cover the “news” that N. Karachalios had “sold” them, as soon as M. Karystianos’ speech ended, she denied that she intended to create a new party. N. Karachalios, who was obviously exposed that day, subsequently decided to reveal in “installments” his dealings with M. Karystianos and her close associates.
Published in Parapolitika
