«All democratic and progressive citizens must realize that we are at a very critical crossroads. We cannot let the extreme right become dominant in the European Parliament. This will automatically mean the final end of democratic Europe” stresses to documentonews.gr the SYRIZA MEP candidate, Grigoris Stogiannidis, ringing a very clear alarm bell.
He appears optimistic that his party can re-elect six MEPs like in 2019, talks about Euro-Turkish relations, states that he does not have great expectations from the upcoming Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting and analyzes the reasons that led him to claim a seat in Brussels.
Can a strong SYRIZA influence the political decisions of the European Parliament?
First of all, as you know very well, no Greek party, no matter how high a percentage it gets in the European elections, cannot by itself influence the political decisions of the European Parliament.
In the 2019 European elections, SYRIZA-PS elected 6 MEPs. My personal assessment is that this goal is achievable in the elections of June 9, 2024. One of the MEPs of SYRIZA-PS also held a seat among the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament in the period 2019-2024.
SYRIZA-PS together with the other parties of the left in the next European Parliament can and must be the regulating factor for all the decisions of the European Parliament.
What should be the priorities of SYRIZA both before and after the elections?
A month ago, SYRIZA-PS released its manifesto for the European elections – “Progressive Counterattack in Greece and Europe”.
In this declaration, 10 goals for a Democratic, Social, Green Europe are included.
1st objective: Strategic autonomy of Europe.
2nd goal : Fair and sustainable development – so that austerity does not return.
3rd objective : Just green transition.
4th? objective : Social Europe with fair transformation of the labor market.
5th objective : Elimination of poverty and social exclusion.
6th objective: Europe of equality and rights.
7th objective: Europe without digital inequalities in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
8th objective: European migration policy with real solidarity.
9th goal: Anti-fascist Europe, a barrier to the hatred of the extreme right.
10th goal: The democratic Europe we want and deserve.
How can the rise of the far right be stopped?
The rise of the far right in Europe is mainly due to the austerity policies implemented in the EU for the last 15 years – see memoranda – increase in pension thresholds, no increase in wages or very little increase in wages in proportion to inflation and accuracy.
There must be an end to austerity policies. We call on progressive citizens to go to the polls, because the decisions of the European Parliament affect our lives and our daily lives.
All democratic and progressive citizens must realize that we are at a very critical crossroads. We cannot let the extreme right become dominant in the European Parliament. This will automatically mean the definitive end of democratic Europe.
What should EU-Turkey relations be?
The EU must have good relations with Turkey and Turkey needs the EU. However, these relations must be regulated on the basis of International Law.
Millions of immigrants and refugees from Asian and African countries are literally piling up in Turkey today. The EU supports and must continue to support Turkey financially to be able to provide the minimum supplies for the survival of these people. The current Turkish government in turn must finally stop using, at times, these people as a lever of pressure to achieve other goals at the expense of neighboring countries and especially our country.
EU-Turkey relations, only if governed by a spirit of sincere cooperation, will be able to be mutually beneficial for both countries.
What do you expect from the upcoming Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting?
Personally, I am one of those who believe that the leaders of both places, throughout time, should communicate regularly with the sole aim of the peaceful coexistence of the two peoples, lest at some point in the future this arms race stop and the money spent on equipment are given for the social policy, welfare and development of the peoples of Greece and Turkey.
Regarding the upcoming meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdogan, I do not have many expectations for a positive outcome. The relationship between the two men has gone through a thousand waves without any concrete positive result other than communication games.
I sincerely hope to be disproved.
And finally, why did you decide to declare your intention to participate in the European elections? Why should people prefer you?
First of all, I would like to state that I have chosen to participate in this unprecedented process of nominating my party’s MEP candidates, because I believe that party members and friends should have a say in the party’s MEP candidates as well as for other serious internal party issues.
In the 2015-2019 period when SYRIZA-PS was in government, I was a Member of Parliament for Xanthi for SYRIZA-PS. This parliamentary experience, my
creates the belief that I will also be able to cope with the tasks of the MEP, if the voters of SYRIZA-PS choose me to represent them in the European Parliament.
My trade union experience, as president of the “THRACIAN CASINO WORKERS’ ASSOCIATION” for 21 consecutive years and having the experience of negotiating collective labor agreements, among others, will give me the opportunity to claim the establishment of the European minimum wage, with a specific amount for everyone the workers of the European Union as well as the establishment of a single legislative framework for collective labor agreements, which will enable all workers to demand decent wages and decent working conditions.
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