Maria Karistianou’s party, “Hope for Democracy, ”has leveled sharp criticism at former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, citing “provocative irony, vague generalizations, and a complete lack of substance” in his recent public statements.
The statement argues that Mr. Tsipras’s announcements regarding “living with dignity,” “a shield against inflation,” and “strengthening employment” lack credibility, as, it is noted, they come from the politician who “led the country into the third memorandum” and “turned the Greek people’s NO into a YES,” burdening the country’s future.
Special mention is also made of the former prime minister’s statements regarding a “strong democracy without immunities.” “Hope for Democracy” argues that Mr. Tsipras, during his time in government, did not proceed to repeal Article 86 of the Constitution regarding ministerial responsibility, while also accusing him of failing, as a member of parliament, to support the initiatives of party president Maria Karistianou to end the immunity of political figures.
According to the statement, this stance reportedly contributed to maintaining the impunity of political figures linked to Contract 717, which concerns the railway network. The party argues that, had this specific contract been implemented on time, “the Tembi disaster would have been avoided,” placing blame on both former New Democracy Minister Kostas Karamanlis and former Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis.
At the same time, the statement criticizes Alexis Tsipras’s references to a “strong economy” and “rules for banks,” arguing that the SYRIZA government paved the way for the transfer of loans to funds. As noted, this development led many citizens to lose their assets through procedures the party characterizes as non-transparent.
The statement concludes with a pointed reference to the former prime minister, arguing that “he thinks citizens have the memory of a goldfish,” while characterizing his intervention as a whole as “regrettable” and politically hypocritical.
The statement in full
“Provocative irony, generalizations, and no substance in Mr. Tsipras’s statements. The introduction was disheartening and likened political parties to disposable goods, as we were told that more are produced than citizens can consume. And all this while political parties are a pillar that serves democracy.
The rest is equally disappointing: His so-called commitment to a life of dignity, a shield against inflation, and strength in labor is OFFENSIVE when it comes from the mouth of the politician who brought us the third bailout and mortgaged our future, turning the Greek people’s NO into a YES.
His reference to a strong democracy without immunities is PROVOCATIVE when made by a former prime minister who not only did nothing to repeal Article 86 of the Constitution but also, as a member of parliament, failed to support the efforts of our President, Maria Karistianou, to lift the immunity of politicians, thereby contributing to the impunity of New Democracy Minister K. Karamanlis, as well as his own party colleague H. Spirtzis, both of whom are criminally liable for Contract 717, which, had it been implemented, would have prevented the Tembi tragedy.
Furthermore, the announcement of a supposedly strong economy and banking regulations is PROVOCATIVE, since it was A. Tsipras was the one that paved the way for the funds, which bought up Greek loans under opaque terms, leading to the loss of their property.
Does Mr. Tsipras think we’re stupid or that we have the memory of a goldfish?”