Those who happened to serve in the training camp of Thebes, or even went on an infantry visit at some point, know very well about the endless uphill immediately after the main gate that leads to infinity. Or nowhere – depending on the perspective and mood of each person facing it.
It is precisely this endless paved road that Stefanos Kasselakis walked yesterday evening (Friday 15/3) as he began his all-too-short stint in the Armed Forces as a true “gunner”. It is precisely this uphill that the president of SYRIZA wants to believe that he will travel until he reaches the top of the hill, puts the flag of sovereignty in the soil and celebrates the second place in the European elections with as decent a percentage as possible.
“I don’t want a loofah, I want to be melted, now make me do push ups, I can handle it” replied St. Kasselakis in a conversation with voters of the main opposition party who wished him a “good term and a quick return” immediately after the speech for the launch of the European campaign for the nationwide battle of June 9 – the first under the leadership of Koumoundourou. Probably Artillery, Artillery, Artillery really loves it…
Power Through Knowledge
With a haircut perfectly suited for the occasion, short and well-groomed which he asked for the opinion of those present by asking if they approved, against a shave, but a suit with a blue tie and the mouthpiece as a permanent extension of himself, the SYRIZA leader had just put down the gun of and in a resting position was again the attraction and pole of attraction for dozens of photos in another political event within 48 hours
It was preceded by the presentation of the tax program, which was largely edited by the responsible department head Nikos Pappas. Because he had actually worked a lot for it, he is “sorry”, as St. jokingly mentioned. Kasselakis, because he rang his cell phone and did not have it on silent while he was developing the ten axes of European policy.
He wouldn’t lie to him, much less punish him for such a bad offense. For the time being, after all, the knives of the intra-party confrontation in SYRIZA have been sheathed. THE “Power Through Knowledge” stands for Artillery as a slogan, so the 35-year-old politician prefers in this crucial pre-election period to have everyone else with him. Friends and rivals. He understood that this is the wisest (and for him) as long as he is absent.
Hence, both Olga Gerovasili and Dionysis Teboneras were in the first row of seats. Also Sokratis Famellos, George Tsipras, Pavlos Polakis (who has given him a pardon), Dionysis Kalamatianos, Katerina Notopoulou. Together with the “neutrals” Rena Dourou – Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou. But also the new presidents: Evangelos Apostolakis, Theodora Tzakri, Petros Pappas, Anna Vagena, Rallia Christidou, the coordinator of department heads Yiannis Sarakiotis, the now collaborators Rania Svigou (secretary), Yiannis Voulgarakis (coordinator of the organizational office) and Othon Iliopoulos (to deny that he is resigning).
As of course present were officials who will claim their presence on the European ballot through the qualification process (April 14) and then their presence in Brussels – Strasbourg. The current MEPs K. Arvanitis – El. Kountouras, but also (European policy advisor) Nikolas Farandouris with (former press representative) Dora Avgeri and former basketball player Nikos Pappa. More distinctive on the other hand are the appearances of Olympic height champion Nikis Bakoyannis (who may come down as a candidate) and actress Vasias Panagopoulos.
Fire squad against the government, Mitsotakis and EPP
In general, on Thursday night, Stefanos Kasselakis mobilized quite a bit of humor. Mainly the black, the vitriolic. Pure medicine. In order to criticize the bad texts of the government and highlight all that SYRIZA stands for as, for him, the only progressive party in the country. With each new occasion the party leader fired his arrows at New Democracy. One after another.
He mockingly commented on the return of the torch to the ruling party’s flag, saying “symbols speak volumes”. He spoke of a “historical shame” referring to the European Parliament’s resolution condemning Greece for the Rule of Law and the cover-up of the Tempe crime along with the wiretapping scandal that undermines democracy. He reflected the New Democracy in persons like Kostas Ah. Karamanlis, Dimitris Lignadis, Nikos Georgiadis and Ilias Michos.
He attacked Ursula von de Leyen, who was recently openly supported by Mr. Mitsotakis in order to be re-elected president of the Commission. He called the government a “follower of the US” and being blackmailed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He accused “astute ministers” (call me Adonis Georgiadis) who are photographed above patients of afternoon surgeries and celebrate. He spoke of the arrogance of the 41% that will be seen on the scales.
He criticized Anna-Nikol Asimakopoulou and Niki Kerameos for “letter marketing” on the occasion of the leaking of emails from Greeks abroad. He called Mr. Mitsotakis a hypocrite because he celebrated the new immigration and asylum pact, while no responsibility has yet been assigned for the shipwreck in Pylos. He raised the tone even further by pointing out that NATO is a defense agreement and that “we will not send frigates”. He finally hinted at Rousseff’s selection of candidate MEPs, at a time when “we don’t need to make mechanisms convenient”.
Playing with his audience
In an otherwise quiet evening without pitches or slogans, such as his most deafening speeches at the Conference, every such venomous revulsion during his speech and a warm applause that interrupted him for a few seconds. It allowed him to take a sip of water or straighten his tie again. Even to wipe his nose, because “with so many hugs and kisses I am stuffed”.
From time to time he opened a dialogue with (his) audience on three sides of the seats. He craves interaction, he likes to take in the vibes of those around him. “Well done Stefan”, was heard from the depth after one of his sentences, and joined towards ‘here. But also a “murderers” spread in the room about “what kind of Europe we are”, which he hurried to collect immediately. “No, don’t do that” quickly suggested the lady who blurted it out.
Interviews with citizens
The image from the video interviews of passers-by from Ermou in the center of Athens framed what he had planned to say about the Europe of today and tomorrow, with which the only thing in common is the currency. Analyzing SYRIZA’s ten axes of European policy, its president underlined the need for a strong, autonomous and fair EU that takes initiatives and offers solutions against the strengthened alt-right culture that is gaining ground, homophobia and racism.
Solutions to issues such as the Cyprus issue, the Palestinian issue, solutions that will go hand in hand with the environment and green development, not with military equipment, solutions that will concern the daily life of the citizen through the increase in salaries and pensions and will invest in research utilizing for the benefit of artificial intelligence. Solutions that will not refer to the Middle Ages of burnt witches.
The sardam that “saved”
The pauses in all this were also part of the communication game. Of persuasion and imitation. Pauses to recharge batteries, pauses of silence for greater emphasis of what had been said and what would immediately follow. Less direction, more individual initiative. Like the verbal slip of “genocide” instead of “femicide”. Sardam who corrected and immediately passed it by pointing out that at least one concept has been recognized internationally while the other has not.
And when he finished expressing his optimism for the final outcome of the European elections “because there are many of us here, we are right about the place and we are born for the beautiful and the difficult” the prolonged standing ovation “For Another Europe” created a broad smile of sheer satisfaction on his face. Which was captured in dozens of photos, but remains to be “expressed” in the ballot box, in a convincing manner.
“I’ll miss you” he had said before the start of his speech and he probably meant it, since for the next two to three weeks his contacts with the outside world are necessarily cut off. Radio silence then. This imprisonment in the Thebes camp is also a mind game for such an extroverted president – an uphill climb for a new recruit who has an obligation to climb.
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