- What prompted you to take part within the SYRIZA primaries and now run for a seat within the European Parliament?
As a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, I’ve the chance day by day to take heed to the issues and issues of individuals, who’re making an attempt to deal with the rising financial and social challenges.
The fixed appreciation of products, low wages and costly housing after the pandemic and the debt disaster, have brought on a fantastic trauma to our social cohesion. Many voters really feel that the state has deserted them, hand over hope that one thing can change for the higher, and keep away. This inevitably results in a shift in the direction of individualism. As we transfer away from “Us”, violence will increase, particularly amongst younger individuals and throughout the household.
So I’m collaborating within the elections as a result of I imagine {that a} extra moral – and fewer technocratic – authorities, primarily based on the ideas of social justice, solidarity and progress, can heal the trauma and treatment these issues. We will and should use Europe’s potential to realize this.
- Why ought to individuals vote for you? What does Dimitris Papadimitriadis have to supply as an MEP?
My participation in these elections as a psychological well being skilled isn’t just a political act, it’s a private mission. With my direct contact with the human psyche, I’m nicely conscious of the issues attributable to financial instability, unemployment and social inequality. I’ve devoted my life to serving to individuals overcome their difficulties and discover their psychological steadiness. This expertise, mixed with my specialised coaching in Worldwide Well being Coverage and my earlier expertise in European establishments as a consultant of European medical college students, offers me a novel perspective on how we will method and remedy issues within the European context.
The values of social justice, equality and solidarity aren’t simply theoretical for me. They’re ideas that information my every day apply. I need to work to make sure that nobody feels disregarded or helpless. I’ll promote insurance policies that can tackle the actual wants of residents with European instruments. Bettering entry to high quality well being, strengthening social welfare, tackling unemployment and financial dependence of younger individuals on their households and defending labor rights are a few of my key priorities. I’ll work to strengthen European solidarity and create insurance policies that can cut back disparities between international locations and areas.
To place it merely, I’m asking for the vote of the residents as a result of I’m right here to hear, perceive and struggle for his or her wants. My candidacy is a promise that I’ll work tirelessly to make Greece throughout the Europe of enlightenment, a greater place for all of us.
- What extra can the state do to assist our fellow human beings with psychological and psychological well being issues?
Funding for psychological well being in Greece is 3-4 instances under the European common, because it represents solely 3.3% of public well being expenditure, which is already very low general. With a view to enhance the scenario in our nation, it’s first mandatory to extend the out there assets. It will allow the creation of extra psychological well being constructions, particularly within the area, the strengthening of present ones and the recruitment of extra psychological well being professionals.
However that is not sufficient. Larger emphasis is required on prevention by academic packages and consciousness campaigns that can additional destigmatize psychological well being. Early prognosis and intervention is vital to enhancing high quality of life. Our nation, regardless of its sunshine, great thing about panorama and extroversion in way of life, is ranked sixty fourth in world happiness, under the chilly and darkish international locations of the north. In 2023, 74% of staff said that that they had skilled a minimum of one type of psychological dysfunction within the final yr, and scientific analysis exhibits that one in 4 residents in Greece is experiencing some type of psychological dysfunction, with a dramatic enhance within the prescription of psychotropic medication.
With European assets, we should make psychotherapy providers accessible from each nook of the nation. For instance, within the latest case of kid abuse in Nisyros, my clinic voluntarily undertook psychotherapeutic help as a result of this risk was not provided by the state. Additionally, we have now much more to do to help caregivers of these of our fellow human beings coping with persistent circumstances, resembling developmental issues, neurological and psychiatric issues, reminiscence issues, and so forth. And eventually, to deal extra severely with addictions and the reintegration of addicts.
- Are you frightened concerning the rise of the far proper in Europe? What can SYRIZA do about it?
The strengthening of far-right forces, with the rhetoric of hatred, xenophobia and division, is a direct menace to democracy, human rights and social cohesion. This case requires a coordinated and decisive response from all progressive forces, together with SYRIZA PS. Allow us to acknowledge that financial inequality and social injustice are fertile floor for the event of far-right ideology. SYRIZA PS promotes insurance policies that cut back inequalities, enhance wages and enhance entry to high quality well being and schooling providers. A welfare state that cares for all its residents is the perfect antidote to far-right extremism. Likewise, everybody’s participation in democracy. SYRIZA PS promotes insurance policies that strengthen citizen participation in democratic processes, giving voice to minorities and guaranteeing that every one residents have the chance to actively take part in public affairs. That is what Stefanos means by emphatically repeating the unmediated communication he seeks as President, and I emphasize the identical with my try and switch the expertise of psychotherapy to politics, the place each voice is heard individually and issues.
And Schooling is among the strongest instruments to struggle hatred and racism. SYRIZA PS invests in academic packages that promote tolerance, variety and understanding amongst residents. With the notice that the values that govern the principles of our democracy matter greater than easy compliance with them.
On the European degree, SYRIZA PS MEPs will work with different progressive events and actions in Europe for widespread methods and actions towards the acute ideology that divides individuals. The unity of progressive forces is vital.
- What outcome will you be glad with on the night of June 9?
The fixed debate about the results of one or the opposite occasion particularly in Greece, for my part, trivializes the massive problem contained in your earlier query. We’re coping with elections going down concurrently all through the European Union. Personally, I will probably be glad with a outcome which exhibits that the alliance of progressive forces throughout Europe has been strengthened. This may also permit SYRIZA PS to cooperate extra successfully with different events and actions to advertise widespread targets. So far as SYRIZA PS is anxious, we search to extend the variety of our MEPs, which is able to permit us to have extra affect on the selections and insurance policies of the European Union that concern all Greeks. We’ve earlier than us necessary negotiations for our widespread future and this yr is a particular yr the place the appointments of the brand new European officers in a very powerful positions may also be ratified.
Though I’m assured – and stubbornly optimistic – that SYRIZA PS will pleasantly shock the voters on June 9, I’ve discovered as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist to understand each small victories and small steps ahead. Each constructive outcome, which brings us nearer to the conclusion of our targets, will probably be a major achievement.
- May SYRIZA take the initiative to unite the progressive forces, in order that they’ll face the right-wing unitedly?
SYRIZA PS, as the biggest occasion of the European left, should take the initiative to unite the progressive forces, in order that they’ll unitedly face the proper and conservatism. The unity of progressive forces is vital to advancing an agenda primarily based on the values of social justice, solidarity and democracy. As your subsequent MEP, I pledge to take initiatives to create and strengthen alliances with different progressive events throughout the European Parliament.
With SYRIZA PS we’ll promote dialogue and cooperation between these progressive forces, to create platforms the place we share concepts and experiences to strengthen the effectiveness of the progressive motion. My purpose will probably be a proud illustration, in favor of democracy and transparency each on the nationwide and European degree, to revive the very unhappy picture of a portion of the earlier European Parliament.
- What factors ought to the progressive forces – by extension SYRIZA – emphasize within the subsequent time frame?
Progressive forces should proceed to struggle for the values and insurance policies that can enhance inclusion and enhance the standard of life for all residents. It’s no coincidence that our slogan in these elections is “Higher Life”. I’ve co-signed the declaration “Over the Line” in favor of a European Directive on the assured minimal earnings, in order that we will deal with poverty and inequality amongst European residents and deal with the poverty that also holds.
Elevating wages whereas easing the burden on employers to make it doable is a crucial precedence. In addition to the advance of working circumstances with insurance policies in favor of the safety of staff. The main focus can be on the self-employed, freelancers and the help of small and medium-sized enterprises for which the European designation (medium, small) should be modified to incorporate these with a single-digit variety of workers (micro).
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