The country cannot be changed by a party that gets 30% of the vote". Mr. Tsipras still owes an apology for the false promises he made. The SYRIZA people knew that all the things they were saying were lies" stated Stavros Theodorakis in an interview with the newspaper "Kathimerini" and journalist Konstantinos Zoulas.
When asked about the upcoming elections, the head of Potami explained that: "whichever party wins, it will not be able to solve the problems alone. The country needs wide political and social alliances. We have been saying it from day one: even if it wanted to, a party that gets 30% of the vote cannot change Greece by itself. There are so many accumulated problems, that only a wide alliance representing the majority of the Greek people can tackle them."
He also noted that "we would prefer a government made up of 20 determined individuals with the know-how and strength to put forward the 10 major changes that the country needs and say "let's do it". This is the government that we will support, not one where each party takes 3 or 4 ministries, without a plan and without overall direction".
Finally, he points out that "The country will not come out of this dead-end with Mr. Tsipras or Mr. Meimarakis". "The country will not be saved by the old political establishment. We need new politicians and wide social alliances".
Following is the entire interview:
You characterized the decision by Mr. Tsipras to call for elections as a “tragic choice for the country” and you added that his government has destroyed the country. Do you now think that it was a mistake to support him?
Mr. Zoulas, I think that you are confusing two different things. We were never enchanted with Mr. Tsipras. But, the country was with one foot outside of Europe. Therefore, there was no other way than to tell him: “don’t be afraid of your own party, we will vote for the deal that will keep us in Europe”. We were the first ones to say it, without hidden thoughts, and then the remaining parties followed.
And to show “appreciation” for your support, Mr. Tsipras, in his proclamation on Thursday, spoke with disdain for all those that were declaring their willingness to vote for whatever deal he would bring...
Mr. Tsipras is like someone that asks you to lend him money because his kids are starving, you give it to him, and then he blames you because he got drunk with the money you gave him. However, this demonstration of ingratitude does not influence us. Besides, if we responded to every attack coming from SYRIZA, we would be mudslinging all day.
So, you insist that it was the right thing to support Mr. Tsipras so forcefully?
Forcefully, no. But, with a forceful sense of patriotism, yes. Have you ever wondered what would have happened to the country if the meeting of the political leaders the day after the referendum had not concluded with a joint statement? This is what opened the doors to Europe again. And do not consider that the success of that meeting was preordained. Mr. Tsipras was still oscillating between Europe and the drachma”. But, I don’t want to continue this conversation, at least not right now.
The day before yesterday, you said that Mr. Tsipras could have continued governing with the tolerance of the opposition. How could that be possible, given that even you were warning him not to dare bring another bill like the one by Mr. Baltas?
I said what all reasonable people were saying, that we must not have elections right now. The economy, immigration, the security of the country, education, everything is up in the air. The capital controls that were imposed by Mr. Tsipras so frivolously, were a stab in the back to commerce, exports and production. Small and large enterprises were saying “let’s wait for the autumn to come, so that we can stand on our feet again” and now we are telling them “we are having elections”. That is another push toward catastrophe.
So, I pose this question directly to you. Given the first seven months of his governance, do you think that Mr. Tsipras is capable to lead the country out of this dead-end, if he wins the elections?
The country will not be able to deal with this dead-end, either with Mr. Tsipras, or with Mr. Meimarakis. The country will not be saved by the old political establishment. We need new politicians and wide social alliances.
So, you represent the new and everyone else is the old?
Why do you object to that? Appointing everywhere your party members, your trusted friends and your relatives is not old? Promising to give everything to everyone, just like Mr. Tsipras has been doing for three years, is not old? Mr. Tsipras still owes an apology for his false promises. In SYRIZA, they all knew that they were lying. Mr. Skourletis knew that the minimum wage could not be raised, but he just thought “let me get the position of minister, and then I will find some excuse to say".
Now that Mr. Tsipras got rid of his left platform and will attempt a turn to the center-left, why would anyone vote for Potami?
I am not worried about that. Mr. Tsipras will try to present himself both as a genuine revolutionary as well as a contrite center-left politician. Lately, he even declared himself a reformer, without being able to present even one reform in seven months. Unless, he considers reforms the closure of magnet schools, the open borders and the open prisons. But, to be very precise, Potami is not just center-left.
What is Potami?
A progressive movement based on common sense, for the benefit of the people and not for the benefit of parties or ideologies.
You insist on an anti-parties rhetoric, something that is perceived by some people as not only arrogant but also undemocratic
Democracy is one thing, "Greek establishment parties " is another. The society has suffered from the party-state and party machines. It's a heavy ball tied to society's leg.
Honestly, what is your opinion on Mr. Meimarakis? I'm asking because he also appears to be aiming at the so-called political center and moderate voters, whom you are also trying to attract
Mr. Meimarakis is direct and I like that. And he has good political sense. He knows what is going on in society. But let's not forget he has been an MP for 26 years and many years as a minister. He is not exactly the definition of something new. Many of the mistakes we are experiencing have their roots in the policies followed by the governments of New Democracy and PASOK. It was not Tsipras that destroyed everything. Tsipras just accelerated dramatically the decline and canceled some of the few reforms that had been made.
Which party do you predict will win the elections and who would you prefer to co-govern with? SYRIZA or New Democracy?
It would not be right of me to make that kind of prediction, however whichever party manages to win will not be able to solve the problems by itself. The country needs wide political and social alliances. We have been saying this from day one: even if it wanted to, a party with 30% of the votes, will not change Greece alone. There are so many accumulated problems, that what is needed is an alliance representing the majority of the Greek people.
Many believe that the best solution would be a coalition by New Democracy and SYRIZA, claiming that the five-year dead-end of the country is mainly due to the convenient anti-Memorandum opposition exercised by SYRIZA and New Democracy, some years earlier.
You are right. The division between “Pro-Memorandum” and “Anti-Memorandum” was a political fraud. Antonis Samaras was also “against the Memorandum”. And the ones who would tear the Memorandums apart in January now talk about the “best Memorandum of all times”. In any case, the power of a government does not lie on the arithmetic of the votes it obtained. If SYRIZA and New Democracy cooperate, with the first sticking to their ideological fixations and the others to their rigidity, we will have a government of mediocre results.
Would you join a bigger coalition government, of more than two political parties, or would you rather join a two party coalition government?
We prefer a government made up of 20 determined individuals with the know-how and strength to put forward the 10 major changes that the country needs and say "let's do it". This is the government that we will support, not one where each party takes 3 or 4 ministries, without a plan and without overall direction".
Is it likely that we Ms. Diamantopoulou or Mr. Chrisochoidis will be on the ballot of Potami, as has been written?
The country needs new forces. Of course, there are politicians that contributed to education, to national security and to health. Their experience is useful. We listen to them. But, we will insist: It is time for new politicians. And also, it is time for younger ones.
So, we can assume that your 17 MPs will all be in electable positions on the voting lists?
Potami started developing its ballots early. Everyone is evaluated. The MPs as well. I cannot tell what the conclusion will be. But no one must take first place for granted.
23 August 2015, Kathimerini
