The party of Maria Karystianou, “Hope for Democracy,” is experiencing a new wave of departures following the resignation and expulsion of Thanasis Avgerinos from his role as party spokesperson. Actress Katerina Moutsatsou, school psychologist Maria Ioannidou — a member of the Political Council — and Takis Kotsorgiou have all announced their resignations.
Katerina Moutsatsou: What her resignation statement says
Katerina Moutsatsou announced her departure from the party’s Culture team, expressing her gratitude to the members and colleagues she worked alongside. In her statement, she spoke of people with vision and high ideals, and wished “strength and patience” to those continuing the fight for a society she described as remaining “wounded and exhausted.” She also emphasized that she continues to stand by the values of democracy, freedom, and social emancipation. “As I step away from my participation in the Culture team, I want to express my sincere thanks to the friends and members of the movement I worked with, as well as some of the outstanding colleagues of this team. It was an honor to walk alongside truly worthy people who possess vision and fight for noble ideals, and I was fortunate to contribute, to the best of my abilities and knowledge, to this effort,” Katerina Moutsatsou wrote. “I declare that I do not stop fighting for this ‘dream’ that connects us all — one that seeks democracy, freedom, and social emancipation,” she concluded.
Maria Ioannidou’s resignation
Maria Ioannidou, who was part of Maria Karystianou’s inner circle of collaborators, also announced her departure. In her message, she thanked those she worked with over the past period, wished the movement success in achieving the goals for which it was founded, and expressed hope that they would meet again in the future when circumstances allow.
“I am leaving an illusion”
Trade unionist and president of the Panhellenic Network of Coastal Fishing Associations, Takis Kotsorgiou, has also left the party. He had recently welcomed Maria Karystianou to Messolonghi and was a member of the party’s agricultural sector.
In his resignation letter, Mr. Kotsorgiou stated that he is not simply leaving the party, but walking away from “an illusion regarding the violation of every concept of democracy within this particular political space.” “The fact is that there are political defeats that are not measured at the ballot box, but are measured when the very values for which a movement was born are abandoned by those who bore the responsibility to uphold them. Today I am leaving Hope for Democracy — not because I am tired, but because I disagree on fundamental political matters, because I cannot continue to participate in a political organization that, in my view and experience, has permanently strayed from the principles it publicly declared — namely democracy, transparency, and accountability,” he continued.
