The creation of a new political entity from society for society, where all participants will be equals among equals, was announced on Wednesday by Alexis Tsipras, while particularly criticizing opposition parties for political inertia and small-party politics. More specifically, the former prime minister spoke of “parties enclosed in their self-satisfaction and leaderships that give the impression that they care little whether the current government wins a third term.”
In reality, Alexis Tsipras particularly criticized PASOK and Nikos Androulakis, while not sparing his former Left comrades either, saying: “But society doesn’t care about this. About the anxieties, the selfishness, the ambitions, the rebellions, the party-hopping.” Making a self-referential remark, he emphasized: “I resigned from Parliament, but not from the will to fight together to provide an outlet, to give substance and meaning again to solidarity and progress. A new wind of change that, however, to come for the country, must first start from us. What is required today for the democratic camp is to proceed with processes of re-founding its political and organizational substance.” Alexis Tsipras spoke of a “new political Big Bang that will radically reshape today’s political correlations and bring new political formations to the forefront.” He also spoke of the need for a new post-junta era, adding that “the way out today is through our intervention as progressive and democratic citizens to give a fresh breath that will sweep away inert bureaucracies.”
Tsipras’ criticism of the opposition that caused a sensation
In his speech, the former prime minister defended the SYRIZA government of 2015 and declared himself proud of its work, noting that “our government was the most honest government in the modern political history of the country. And that cannot be erased.” However, his fierce criticism of opposition parties, accusing them of inertia, caused a sensation. More specifically, he stated: “Right now we have a government on the verge of collapse under the weight of its ineffectiveness, corruption, and the injustices it causes, but which remains dominant. Why? Because it has no opponent. There is no political force that will give the muted social opposition a prospect of change. A convincing progressive alternative plan that would simultaneously constitute a credible alternative governance proposal.”
And he noted: “Today, unfortunately, what dominates in the progressive space is not concern for producing an alternative plan, nor even anxiety for changing today’s governance, but concern and anxiety about who will be first in the village. The image is unpleasant and discouraging because it is an image of fragmentation and self-interest that reproduces and multiplies social disappointment. And helps the government maintain the swamp. It’s enough for them to stay in their positions.” He emphasized about opposition parties that “it’s enough for them to be given the opportunity later to become the first in the village themselves. But society doesn’t care about this. About the anxieties, the selfishness, the ambitions, the rebellions, the party-hopping.”
He also left barbs for his former comrades, stating that (society) “is not moved by hasty, delayed, and belated mergers, moves of small-party survival. Society cares and worries about an alternative prospect. Against the Greece of Frappe and Ferrari, against the Greece that hurts us, there must be a realistic plan and prospect for a Greece we deserve.”
The message of seating arrangements
The seating arrangement of the event had its significance, as Alexis Tsipras considered that political figures should sit on the balcony and citizens in the square. This fact obviously annoyed the two presidents -of SYRIZA and New Left- without them being able to show their displeasure. Some argued that at least for the two leaders and some other figures, there should have been provision for them to be in the square. However, as it appears, the former prime minister had decided to show in practice that he means what he says about creating a new entity that will have nothing in common with the past.
Who attended Tsipras’ book presentation
Nevertheless, the event was attended by Sokratis Famellos, Alexis Charitsis, Olga Gerovasili, Dionysis Kalamatianus, Kostas Zachariadis, Giorgos Vasiliadis, Stergios Kalpakis, Rania Svigou, Giorgos Karameros, Pafsanias Papageorgopoulos, Vasilis Kokkalis, Alexandros Meikopoulos, Miltos Zamparas, Kostas Barkas, Christos Bgialas, Giannis Sarakiotis, Spyros Danellis, Dora Avgeri, Giorgos Vasiliadis, Tryfon Alexiadis, Symeon Kedikoglou, Giorgos Psychogios, Giannis Ragkousis, Marina Kontotoli, Christos Giannoulis, Athina Linou, Stefanos Tzoumakas, Giannis Mantzouraniss, Kostas Gavroglou, Kalliopi Vetta, Katerina Notopoulou, Christos Spirtzis, Theano Fotiou, Meropi Tzoufi, Hussein Zeimbekis, Efi Achtsioglou, Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, Nikos Pappas, Popi Tsapanidou, Nasos Iliopoulos, Ferhat Ozgiur, Giorgos Gavrilos, Haris Mamoulakis, Andreas Panagiotopulos, Giorgos Stathakis, Sia Anagnostopoulou, Louka Katseli, Rena Dourou and Giannis Dragasakis.
