“Living in the UK, I realized that my generation is educated on little. She doesn’t know what life was like before the crisis and easily accepts whatever you give her a little more. I want my generation to learn to demand. Let’s want it all” stresses Ifigenia Moumtzis in documentonews.gr.
The SYRIZA MEP candidate explains what prompted her to participate in the primary elections, she talks about the Greeks abroad and the new generation, she sends a message to young people to vote on June 9 and … not to go swimming and she evaluates the first months of Stefanos Kasselakis in the presidency of the party.
“Mr. Mitsotakis will forever be the prime minister who released the leader of Golden Dawn, when the whole of Europe is buzzing pre-election for the rise of the extreme right” he notes about the case of Nikos Michaloliakos…
Tell us a few words about yourself, for those who don’t know you…
I was born in Thessaloniki in 1999 and I live in London.
I belong to the generation that grew up in the crisis. Seeing the tragic situation brought by the years of austerity in Greece, with the dissolution of the social fabric, and the terrifying rise of the extreme right, I felt morally obliged to fight for a better future. Then still a student, I started to deal with the “communities”, first as a member of the European Youth Parliament in 2014. In SYRIZA, I registered for the elections in January 2015, when I was only 15 years old, because for the first time in my life I saw that it could for there to be light in the darkness of crisis.
Then came the studies abroad. I studied Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Bristol and did an MA in Political Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science where I studied the far right.
Living in the UK, I realized that my generation is learned in little. She doesn’t know what life was like before the crisis and easily accepts whatever you give her a little more. I want my generation to learn to demand. Let’s want it all.
Now, I work as a researcher at Signify, fighting racism, sexism, and homophobia against athletes on social media and analyzing toxic political narratives online.
We cannot “want it all” and live in a society for the few.
Why should a young scientist abroad get involved in the political life of Greece? What prompted you to participate in the primaries?
Undoubtedly, the Mitsotakis regime has given hundreds of “reasons and occasions” and now our anger is overflowing. Accuracy, entanglement, problems in Justice, controlled media, extreme right… It was a one-way street for me, a young scientist abroad to get involved with Greek politics! But in politics, it’s not enough to just be against something. You must also propose solutions.
I was motivated to participate in the primary elections by the confidence I have in SYRIZA that it can change the country and the everyday life of Greeks for the better. In SYRIZA PS I saw specific political proposals, clear and logical solutions that make the dream of a better life possible. Thus, I considered it necessary for the new generation to come forward, and claim the future they dream of, boldly. After all, if Greece had better wages, social equality, and could promise a decent life, no young person would leave, or even think about leaving (we all have!).
If it weren’t for SYRIZA with President Stefanos Kasselakis and the freshness of renewal with the Greek dream, I would have stayed at home and in my research.
Why should Greeks abroad support SYRIZA in the European elections?
The government, referring to the Greeks abroad, deliberately presents a false communication narrative either of the brain drain-excellent in foreign universities, or of the traditional ultra-conservative expatriate.
The Greeks abroad are people, mainly young but also middle-income, who left during the crisis to study in order to settle abroad, to find a better job, or even parents who were forced to emigrate to support their family. Many took a non-return ticket, and moved abroad without a secure job. They accepted whatever work they could find to make ends meet in whatever city they lived in, and through very difficult conditions they built their lives away from Greece.
All of us who knew we had no future in Greece and chose or were forced to leave abroad, essentially needed and need the Greek dream realized. We left families, girlfriends, boyfriends, our homes, our neighborhoods because we didn’t have a future with good wages, good jobs, and a decent life in an open society.
The Greek dream as described by SYRIZA PS offers all these. Greeks abroad, we must support the political proposals of a party that will offer us a better life in Greece. If not for us, we owe it to future generations.
Under what conditions would you consider returning to Greece?
First, I would come back if we had better wages, lower rents, a reasonable cost of living, and steady job recovery with scope for a career in the subject we have studied. And only if the above is the result of institutionalized policies that put an end to filthy lucre and allow the economy to move. So I would be sure that we are talking about a substantial change that is here to stay.
Secondly, if we had a better social state and effective Justice. Of course I hope not to run into hospitals or courts. But if I get something, I will have to rely on a SSY under dissolution and Mr. Georgiadis’ afternoon clinics. If I have to go to Justice, it is very likely that I will be faced with complications and slow procedures.
Thirdly, if Greek society was more progressive and open. There is terrible sexism in everyday interactions and social demands, as well as deep-seated racism and homophobia. Among other things, dealing with intolerance and conservatism is also a matter of education.
The above conditions do not apply only to me. They concern thousands of Greeks abroad and all young people living in Greece. They are the conditions of a decent life.
What message do you want to send to young people not to go swimming on June 9 and participate in the European elections?
To dare to believe that their life can get better. To claim their future with their vote. And let them know that if they go to the baths on June 9 and let the Mitsotakis government thresh… I see them waiting for a Youth Pass if they want to go for a bath at the end of summer!
Among other things, you are also a member of the SYRIZA human rights think tank… What should be the party’s priority in this area?
Addressing gender-based violence and femicide. Women must be safe at home, at work and on the road. Enshrining the legal term of femicide is essential, as well as taking relevant measures to prevent and deal with gender-based violence. In terms of prevention, everything starts with education and inclusive education. The recent sexist and unscientific statements of the Deputy Minister of Health, D. Vartzopoulos indicate exactly this need…
How do you assess the first months of Stefanos Kasselakis in the presidency of SYRIZA?
The victory of Stefanos Kasselakis in the internal party elections showed that the world needed renewal. They waited standing for hours in line to vote. They believed that SYRIZA with President Stefanos Kasselakis is the only solution against the arrogant 41% of the Mitsotakis government. They were absolutely right. Their vote for Stefanos brought politics back.
Within a few months the party rallied, hundreds of new members came, SYRIZA brought innovative solutions to the economy, and makes daily interventions against every obscenity of the ND. The President Stefanos Kasselakis and Mrs. Diana Voutirakou made 29 think tanks, bringing young scientists who want to contribute, and the party came out stronger after a historic congress.
The President is right when he says that we are going for the first place.
Everyone sleeps as he lays down. Those who are still waiting for politics to come back… Let’s go to the corner and see if we are coming.
How did you see the decision of the judicial council of misdemeanors of Lamia to accept Michaloliakos’ request for release from prison?
Mr. Mitsotakis will forever be the prime minister who released the leader of the Golden Dawn, when the whole of Europe is buzzing pre-election for the rise of the extreme right. It is a shame that neo-Nazis with “clean hands” soaked in blood are being released without reason. Hitler’s fans who do not express remorse are essentially declaring that they will continue their “Struggle”.
Once again, the New Democracy government turns a blind eye to the extreme right, but this time it is a National Socialist criminal organization convicted of murder.
I wonder what will be voted by the electorate celebrating the release of Mr. Michaloliakos. Certainly not the out-of-election Spartans. However, when we say “fascists out”, we do not mean this.
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