Regarding her future plans for creating a new political force, Maria Karystianou spoke to “Kathimerini tis Kyriakis,” while also responding to criticism from relatives of Tempi victims who express disagreement with her political moves.
Maria Karystianou: It’s more than obvious that social awakening is the only way to achieve justice for Tempi victims
Specifically, regarding the displeasure expressed by parents of victims from the Tempi association, such as Pavlos Aslanidis, who called for her resignation as president, Ms. Karystianou stated: “I respect diversity and the free will of every person, much more so of relatives, with whom we share the common pain of losing our loved ones. However, I’m troubled by the reaction of some of them to organizing the anti-corruption movement, which killed our children and continues to abuse their memory by covering up the crimes that took their lives. It’s more than obvious that social awakening is the only way to achieve justice for the Tempi victims. Since not everyone chooses to do this, they obviously have their own reasons, which naturally, I cannot share.”
When asked about the party’s ideological orientation, Ms. Karystianou states that “the movement has as its sole criterion for action the common good of citizens and safeguarding the country’s interests. With good intentions and consideration of all parameters, it’s more than certain that a golden mean will be found in every disagreement and everyone will be satisfied, based on the principles of solidarity and mutual support.”
Regarding her positions on Greek-Turkish relations, she noted that “calm waters mean we have accepted certain things contrary to our national interests. Having calm waters while watching Turkish fishing vessels cruise around our own territorial waters is not calm waters for me.”
Concerning the formation of the new party, Ms. Karystianou notes that procedures are developing rapidly and that groups with notable members, possessing knowledge and experience, have already been formed and work on a voluntary basis by subject: economy, justice, education, health, foreign policy and defense.
According to the “Kathimerini” report, she has received many approaches, both publicly and informally, and has excluded any collaboration with persons who had substantial involvement in politics. Her main collaborator is Maria Gratsia, who was a candidate with the “Niki” party in the 2023 elections. She received the most votes in Athens A after Dimitris Natsios, though the party didn’t win a seat. She is also a particularly religious person, like Ms. Karystianou.
Who is excluded from the new political force
However, the report states that those who attempted and hoped to have a position in the new formation have been rejected. Names that have come up either voluntarily or because Ms. Karystianou has spoken positively about them, such as Stefanos Kasselakis or MEP Nikos Farantouris, who was expelled from SYRIZA last week due to his positive comments about the new party, will not have positions in it. The goal is for none of those who have been elected or held positions in any party in the past to participate in the venture, except for those who were candidates but were not elected.
