“Suddenly we have a series of parties or small parties that more or less declare loyalty to foreign influence. There is a party that comes forward with a Russian orientation,” stated New Democracy MP Dimitris Markopoulos, speaking on Parapolitika 90.1 radio show “She and I” with Thanasis Fouskidis and Stella Gantona. Additionally, regarding Kostas Karamanlis, he said that the former leader hasn’t yet said his final word regarding supporting the party.
“We have a country that is Western-oriented and enjoys what every Western country enjoys, and suddenly we have a series of parties or small parties that more or less declare loyalty to foreign influence. We’re returning to the 19th century with the party of the French faction, the pro-Russian parties. The only political force that can give a different message to society and keep Greece in the Western world is New Democracy. At this moment there is a party that comes forward with a Russian orientation. I’m telling you about something where possibly what we call the country’s Western path is being called into question,” he stated characteristically.
Read: Markopoulos at ND congress: “The uncommitted don’t represent me – The jersey must be bloodied”
Regarding the New Democracy congress, Mr. Markopoulos said: “It became a productive, progressive dialogue about the future of the party, about the future of the country. There were some positions that contained elements of criticism, but I think they came more to talk about going further, about what else we can do. We all recognize that the government and the prime minister have done a great deal, that they have fought and tried hard, and from there on, for someone to add a different perspective is not necessarily bad. In no case did we see speeches of questioning, speeches of breaking relations, speeches that were polarizing. I believe the image was generally unifying, with massive participation. It was a very successful congress, I think we came out more united than when we went in.”
Asked to comment on the choice of top New Democracy officials not to speak at the congress, he noted: “This has to do with the agenda. Mr. Meimarakis was at Parliament, he met with Theodoros Roussopoulos, he’s always open to offering his great experience in congress matters. We had Mr. Roussopoulos who was the head of this congress situation, so I don’t think anyone abstained artificially and I believe that at some point newer officials and other officials joined the dialogue to enrich New Democracy’s ranks, to present their concerns. Dora Bakoyannis is omnipresent on all fronts, fighting for the party everywhere, on all battlefields.”
Dimitris Markopoulos: It would be good to have Kostas Karamanlis with us at the ND congress
Asked if mobilization is possible without Karamanlis and Samaras, he said: “Antonis Samaras has followed a path of harsh criticism, even to the point of undermining basic central choices. I think this is completely different from Kostas Karamanlis. I want to believe that Kostas Karamanlis hasn’t yet said his final word regarding supporting the party.” “It would be good to have him with us. Of course, this isn’t the first time he’s chosen political silence, it’s something he’s chosen for many years,” he concluded.
