Europe faces major challenges again. We need to tackle the issue of unemployment, through development policies, and not just through restrictive, austerity policies. Of course, migration is one major challenge. This is a problem, but also a major opportunity for Europe to show that it bears the values of humanism and solidarity and that it gives opportunities to people that will have to find a comprehension and cooperation path with Europe.
Leader of Potami Stavros Theodorakis attended yesterday the event organized and hosted by the leader of Ciudadanos Albert Rivera. Many European officials attended this event entitled “Another way for Europe and Spain - Otro camino para España y Europa”.
Albert Rivera started his speech saying “From our friends, from Potami, we borrowed the motto: let's change everything, without tearing down Spain”. This is what Albert Rivera said, while smiling at Mr Stavros Theodorakis.
Politicians and officials from liberal political parties in Europe attended this event, which took place in Madrid. Among them, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe.
In his speech, Mr Guy Verhofstadt stated that, after so many years of governance, the conservative forces of Europe, the right wing and social democrats have been defeated. He added that it is time for the new forces, dynamic and liberal, to define developments in Europe.
Albert Rivera pointed out the need for a new policy, with drastic reforms, to be applied in every sector in Europe.
Mr Theodorakis informed Albert Rivera and Guy Verhofstadt on the latest developments in Greece. He said that “in Greece, conservative forces prevail at the moment, in the Left, but also in Social Democracy and in the Right wing”. Mr Theodorakis explained to his interlocutors that Mr Tsipras, in fact, continues the conservative policy that had been applied by the previous government. The three officials agreed on the fact that “Europe will either become progressive or it will be defeated”.
Guy Verhofstadt and Stavros Theodorakis said that they will meet again in Athens, on 9 November. Stavros Theodorakis wished “good luck” to Albert Rivera, in the general elections that will be held on December 20, 2015.
Stavros Theodorakis stated to the Greek reporters, attending the event: “Europe faces major challenges again. We need to tackle the issue of unemployment, through development policies, and not just through restrictive, austerity policies. Of course, migration is one major challenge. This is a problem, but also a major opportunity for Europe to show that it bears the values of humanism and solidarity and that it gives opportunities to people that will have to find a comprehension and cooperation path with Europe. I am very happy to be in Madrid, because I will have the chance to meet people with whom we can talk about Europe. About all those things that unite us and all those things that make us stronger. Greece needs to strengthen its ties with people who share its perspective. The policy of development, the policy of creation. Needless to say that I am also delighted to be here, in order to support Albert Rivera, a politician that makes the difference in Spain, a politician, whose values are really close to Potami”.
Photo credit: Theodore Manolopoulos
