PASOK is focused on the serious problems facing citizens and the country, not merely on organizational structures ahead of elections, said PASOK MP Michalis Katrinis in an interview with MEGA TV.
More specifically, as a guest on the program “Society Hour MEGA” with Iordanis Chasapopoulos and Anthi Voulgari, Michalis Katrinis stated that PASOK has once again brought attention to the issue of exorbitant increases in health insurance premiums, saying: “I haven’t seen any other opposition party issue a statement on this matter. PASOK not only identified and highlighted it, but has also put forward a specific legislative proposal. And this is an example that PASOK does not merely engage in organizational maneuvers ahead of elections, but actually intervenes with proposals and solutions—solutions that are not magical, not just ‘a law and an article.’”
In response to a question regarding the “Shadow Government” and changes within PASOK, he emphasized that “PASOK is fully prepared for the elections and is finalizing the changes following the congress.” He added that “PASOK is an open and democratic party. However, there are two unanimous decisions from the convention, two collective decisions that bind us all. One states that PASOK rules out any cooperation with New Democracy under any circumstances—not just until the elections, but especially after the elections—and the other speaks of an independent course, obviously with channels of communication with neighboring political spaces.”
He reminded that a party’s strategy cannot be determined by individual opinions, but “there are collective decisions, and often because individual opinions are overemphasized and interpreted in various ways that are not always well-intentioned, they become the subject of discussion and perhaps concern us more as PASOK than they should. Now the election clock is ticking, and every day that passes is of great importance to us.”
Finally, responding to a comment by Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Loverdos, who is responsible for economic diplomacy, he referred to a series of economic and military cooperation agreements signed by Turkey with numerous countries, including France, where the Turkish company Baykar entered into an agreement with the French company Safran, “even though we are supposed to have a Greek-French defense agreement that safeguards our country.”
“All of this shows, ” as he emphasized, “that the ‘emperor has no clothes,’ that we have a lot of talk and little substance in areas of action where there should be outward-looking engagement. And the government, instead of focusing on how to improve the country’s position, is preoccupied with what will happen within PASOK.”