The dilemmas that will be posed over the ballot box were set out by the president of the Hellenic Left Alliance Alexis Tsipras, in a wide-ranging interview on Skai, a large part of which was devoted to the political confrontation over the economy.
Starting with the purely political, the former prime minister assessed as the more likely scenario that the current prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will not serve a third term, setting at this point also the central electoral dilemma, according to him:
“Either we will have a continuation of this policy or, if there is a policy change and political change, it will come with the one who is capable of bringing it. And capable of bringing it, both in the polls and in terms of experience, is the Hellenic Left Alliance. Either us or no one”, he said characteristically and continued:
“Life brings dilemmas: is there anyone today who can defeat Mitsotakis? If there is someone, it is the one who is closest to him. If there is someone, it is the one who has governing experience. The one who can govern the country, who has a realistic and alternative plan. The protest vote is all well and good, but at the end of the day the dilemmas will arise, and they will be harsh as always”, he underlined.
And, after referring to the president of PASOK - KINAL Nikos Androulakis, saying that for three years he had the opportunity to raise his party’s percentages, nevertheless “the needle was stuck”, he continued by saying that the second elections will resemble, in his opinion, the elections of June 2012 or the second round of municipal elections. He did, however, appear certain that the second elections will provide the solution.
At another point in the interview, Al. Tsipras described ELAS’s electoral goal, which is political change. Also for the Mitsotakis government to leave, because - according to ELAS’s approach - it exercises a policy that is not to the benefit of the great majority of the Greek people. But he also spoke about his own personal goal, to be useful to the faction and to the country.
He also observed that just as feasible as it is for the prime minister’s percentages to climb from 28% - 29% to 37% for self-reliance, it is equally feasible for these 9 - 10 points to pass to ELAS.
Moreover, underlining the importance of the two-pole structure on the political scene, he stressed that there must be an opposition strong enough to control the government.
Asked, moreover, about the scenario of a grand coalition, he described it as an unfavorable development - and this because, he argued, it is the best ground and the best nourishment for the far right and the “Kasidiarises”.
At this point he even recalled that Ilias Kasidiaris and the other convicted members of Golden Dawn were not imprisoned for their ideas, but for the crimes they committed. “They went to prison because they murdered Pavlos Fyssas and Loukman, the migrant. They went to prison because they carried out pogroms. Because it was a criminal organization”.
He also called on the government to clarify the situation now in relation to the Kasidiaris party and accused ND of the fact that its officials “praised Kasidiaris”, citing the example of MEP Fredi Beleri. Additionally, “openly- or secretly-Golden Dawn ‘Spartan’ MPs I see voting for ND bills and the budget”.
Referring to the other former prime minister Antonis Samaras, he stressed that their positions are diametrically opposed. He estimated, however, that if he runs in the elections, he will further rearrange the political landscape and the gap between ND and ELAS will be reduced.
Regarding officials who are currently outside ELAS, but intend to join, he first stated that politics must be a field of offering and not of offices. Clarifying that he does not disparage the old, he underlined the importance of new blood in politics. Besides, he added, there are also many experienced people on his team. He also repeated that “our doors are not closed to anyone”, but always on the same terms. “We will not take other MPs to form a parliamentary group”, he insisted, adding that the image of the …transferred seat does not help the credibility of politics.
In the area of the economy, the main topic of discussion was fuel prices. Here, the former prime minister began his statement with a political comment, speaking of a disagreement of positions, for example, between the secretary of ND, Konstantinos Kyranakis, and the Ministry of Finance.
“At the Thessaloniki International Fair I did not hear the prime minister say anything specific”, he then said, with the simultaneous observation that the government proposal is 50% higher compared to last year. And, repeating the four tools he proposed in his statement on Tuesday (yesterday), he proposed to the government to make use of at least one tool, or a combination of them. In any case, he concluded, it is a major problem for the greater part of the population.
In his criticism of the economy, he denounced the presence of cartels everywhere: in supermarkets, in banks, in refineries.
He also wondered whether the government took care to procure natural gas in the summer, therefore at lower prices, and whether it has proceeded with a solar energy battery storage program.
Regarding the programmatic clash of the parties at the Thessaloniki International Fair, after noting that the Alliance was the first party to say that it would submit its program to the Hellenic Fiscal Council, he assured that “whatever we announced fits within the fiscal space as it emerges from the Medium-Term”.
Besides, “didn’t I want to come out and announce a 13th salary and a 13th pension? Isn’t that easy?”, he wondered in a clear jab at PASOK. He did, however, recall that he restored part of the 13th pension in 2019.
Regarding his proposal on imposing a patriotic contribution, he clarified that he is referring to the 1% of the wealthiest Greeks, approximately 70 families therefore. He also noted that these families ought on their own to come forward voluntarily to contribute so that the country does not crash on the rocks, so that schools and hospitals can be built.
Besides, he added, the patriotic contribution is applied in many countries. And, in conclusion, the first step is for the voted asset registry to become reality and if anyone disagrees, let them come out and say so.
Finally, Al. Tsipras cited polls showing that in the period 2015 - 19 citizens’ wallets were more comfortable, as he characteristically said.
SOURCE: ANA