Just days before marking one year since his expulsion from New Democracy, Antonis Samaras gave an interview with multiple messages to multiple recipients, leaving open the possibility of founding a new party and launching a fierce attack against Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Dora Bakoyannis, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Alexis Tsipras. Antonis Samaras made pointed remarks about the economy, national issues and New Democracy’s political culture, while “warning” of a “new beginning” that could overturn the current dynamics in the Greek political scene.
Watch the full interview with Antonis Samaras
Samaras began the interview by thanking the public for their support during the painful loss of his daughter Lena. “I thank you, and so do Georgia and Kostas, for this wave of solidarity from the Greek people.” “The loss of Lena brought me closer to these people,” said the former prime minister, referring to the parents of the Tempi tragedy victims.
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Antonis Samaras: New party option remains open
Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras left open the possibility of founding a new party, while presenting an “informal” political platform with patriotic overtones covering national issues, the economy, demographics, immigration and cost of living.
“Our homeland needs a new beginning, a new relationship of honesty, consistency, national and individual. Leadership that is determined, with national vision, ready for ruptures, for changes, with knowledge and a return to politics, with battles of ideas rather than battles of management,” stated Samaras, while simultaneously exercising harsh criticism of today’s New Democracy, which he characterized as mutated and heading “toward the rocks.” While not excluding the creation of a party, he spoke about related polls and the reasons he believes a new party under his leadership is being discussed: “They have polling companies measuring me. That is, some people are paying polling companies to measure a party under my leadership, which however does not exist. This party does not exist. And despite not existing, I saw it reach up to 16% in polls. Even a few days after Lena’s death, I was reading left and right about my supposed thoughts, my political plans, my feelings and all these incredible things at such tragic moments for me. But why is all this happening? I think there are certain common findings and admissions that everyone on the street understands, in everyday conversation, in what people say. And what do people say? First, that today’s New Democracy, because it has mutated, has unfortunately taken the fast track toward the rocks. It reminds me of what Melina Mercouri once said to Andreas Papandreou about PASOK at the time: ‘President, people don’t like us anymore.’ And second, that patriotism and the ideas that I have expressed consistently over time have now become majority views in Greek society. What is happening throughout the world, I suppose everyone can see by now. Third, as I told you earlier, Greece has entered the Post-Transition of the Transition. But it also needs a determined society for the regeneration of the homeland. A regeneration that requires will, stubbornness, effort, not easy solutions. Because we Greeks must rediscover our virtues, our collective values as a society and introduce them into education. Only this way will Hellenism be reborn. These are truths that everyone speaks. I’m not the only one saying them. As for me, yes, I know what is being said. Both those who support me and those who don’t know and at least admit that I managed the difficult times, without ever giving rights to inappropriate behavior. And this honors me.”
However, Antonis Samaras emphatically said he is a politician who has conquered all offices in his career and reached the highest level. “Because I don’t have such needs, my motives are not personal ambitions or vanities or foolish ambitions. And certainly, I carry within me the great pain for my child. It’s not easy for me at all. I’m human, not a machine. But I still have within me the sense of national duty. I weigh the entire situation with great care. I monitor everything. What happens inside and outside the homeland. I will judge calmly. And when I make my decisions, whatever they may be, either way, I will explain them clearly to the only stable ally of my journey for almost 50 years: the Greek people. I owe them that. But don’t expect me to give you a yes or no today,” said Samaras.
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