New turmoil in SYRIZA was caused on Thursday (28/11) by the withdrawal of Yannis Sarakiotis and Evangelos Apostolakis from the party’s Parliamentary Group, which is now left with 27 MPs.
However, the two cases are not the same, as Mr. Sarakiotis was elected with a cross, while Mr. Apostolakis was placed on the State ballot by former party president Alexis Tsipras, whom he contacted before making his final decision, but did not listen to his suggestion.
“Heed the advice of others”
According to information, former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a telephone conversation with Evangelos Apostolakis in the previous days, at the initiative of the latter. In an absolute way he conveyed his position that, especially an appointed member of parliament, when he disagrees with the party that elected him, he resigns, leaving the seat that neither politically nor morally belongs to him. He obviously listened to the advice of others.
Apostolakis never answered Famellos
According to well-informed sources, Sokratis Famellos and Evangelos Apostolakis met on Thursday afternoon at the SFEA event in the Old Parliament.
The same sources reported that the president of SYRIZA asked the admiral why he did not respond to the messages he received all the previous time from Koumundourou, at a time when meetings with all the members of KO have been planned for days.
The former defense minister declined to answer. Nor did he even inform Sokr of his independence intentions. Famello and shortly after announced his retirement.
Angry announcement from SYRIZA
“The prescribed decision of Evangelos Apostolakis ends today with his shameful apostasy. He didn’t think about the Party that honored him by placing him on the State Ballot, nor the voters of SYRIZA-PS.
And he insults the choice of SYRIZA-PS members, as he recently expressed in the presidential elections.
From now on, it will bear the mark of apostasy, trampling and insulting the popular verdict and will, as well as serving the Mitsotakis government’s aims and the entanglement, which are particularly worrying from the relaunch and strengthening of SYRIZA-PS.
He must, even at the last moment, hand over the seat that does not belong to him, especially since SYRIZA-PS placed him on the State Ballot. Otherwise, the Greek people will send him to the basket of political history. And no one is going to save him there,” says Koumoundourou.
Announcement of the Press Office of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance – https://t.co/Pr2F6r2ike
The predetermined decision of Evangelos Apostolakis ends today with his shameful apostasy. He didn’t even think about the Party that honored him by placing him on the Ballot… pic.twitter.com/tElQYoeeNF— SYRIZA (@syriza_gr) November 28, 2024
“I can’t be in a party that works like this”
Evangelos Apostolakis said earlier that, as he has served the country in high positions of responsibility and knows very well what “responsibility”, “conscience” and “honor” mean, he cannot be in a party that operates in this way.
His statement in detail:
“In 2023 I accepted the proposal of SY.RI.ZA. PS to be a candidate for State Parliament, because I thought it was a progressive party, which in practice respected the democratic traditions as well as the principles and values of the Progressive party. What has happened recently has defied my expectations as democratic processes have been subordinated to practices that harken back to moments in the past that we all want to forget.
Having served the country in high positions of responsibility and knowing very well what “responsibility”, “conscience” and “honor” mean, I cannot be in a party that operates in this way. I am also sure that the majority of those who voted for it share my attitude.
My decision to remain an independent Member of Parliament and to retain my seat is fully in line with my obligation to citizens and democracy. The institution of the State Deputy ensures the overall representation of society and not small party balances. Therefore, it is my duty to continue working with ethics, transparency and dedication to the national interest, unaffected by small party expediencies.”
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