Kasselakis: SYRIZA in the European elections “will surprise Europe and the country” – 2024-04-14 13:06:48

The president of SYRIZA-PS, Stefanos Kasselakis, strongly criticized the government, regarding its economic policies, during his presence at the 9th Delphi Economic Forum, where he had a discussion with the journalist of the “Financial Times”, Tony Barber.

The president of SYRIZA-PS accused the Mitsotakis government of “lies” regarding both the latest events, such as the “Tempe accident” or the surveillance scandal, as well as regarding taxes, since, as he said, “he promised to reduce taxes purely for marketing reasons’ but it became ‘the opposite’.

In fact, he expressed the belief that in the upcoming European elections the “difference” will “close” and SYRIZA will “surprise Europe and the country”.

Referring to the economy, he pointed out that there is “financial stability” in the country, but in terms of “convergence” with other EU countries in terms of growth, investment or purchasing power, the results are “unpleasant”.

He accused the government of not having succeeded in making the Greek economy truly “outward-looking” and that the country is still not “ready” for “recession” conditions.

He did not fail to refer to the issues of “rule of law” and “regulation of open markets, such as energy”, commenting that the government “has done nothing”.

The issue of “label” does not concern citizens

Asked about the political identity of SYRIZA and whether it is identified with other European left parties, St. Kasselakis underlined that this is a matter of “etiquette” which does not concern the citizens, who are thinking about “how they will pay the bills” and “how they will meet their daily needs”. “If the economy was working efficiently, we wouldn’t have the most expensive housing in Europe”, he said characteristically, stressing the need for “radical solutions to big problems”.

Referring also to the SYRIZA government in 2015-2019, he said that Alexis Tsipras was “elected to negotiate austerity” and that he “tried” to bring about important changes, not only, as he said, the cushion that was important for the country’s economy but also the “best support measures” for the weak.

Continuing, he stated that SYRIZA “left the country in a very good state” and that it is now building the “progressive-center-left-interventionist party that the country needs.”

He also noted that he talks to investors “better than his competitors” and that he is “the only political leader who has succeeded in the private sector”.

Asked to comment on the war in Ukraine, he expressed the view that the EU should support Ukraine against Russia’s aggressive policy and that Greece has a role to play in this, not by sending weapons, but by providing humanitarian aid or providing access in its ports, however “it is up to other countries to provide the military assistance that is needed”, as he said.

Finally, regarding the debate on strengthening European defense, he declared in favor of a “transition” from “transatlantic dependence” to “independence of Europe’s military capability”.