KINAL: Mild tones in the pre-election debate

The 5 candidates for leadership in the Movement for Change, conducted a low-key and low-key political dialogue during the telecombat (debate), at ERT, which ended shortly before midnight on Monday and lasted almost two hours without intense confrontations and clashes.

The tones may not have risen and the pluralism in the party was certified, however the five candidates had skirmishes and arguments about post-election partnerships, the changes in the Criminal Codes, but also the representation of the party in the Parliament.

Ο Nikos Androulakis, when asked, he first mentioned how he would combine his election with remaining in the European Parliament, said that he envisions a participatory party that will be in constant contact with society and that his presence at the offices of the C.O. in the Parliament will be continuous. A little later, when asked again about who will be the head of the C.O., he claimed that «the one who will represent me in the Parliament will have my direction and will be chosen together with the Parliamentary Group». In his intervention, the Andreas Loverdos responded by pointing out that «the Parliamentary Group decides who will be the leader and no one outside is involved».

The MEP stressed that it is necessary for the party and the party to move forward with unity and renewal, pointing to the crossroads of critical decisions that must be taken by the KINAL. In particular, he said:

«This is the crossroads at which democratic citizens find themselves on 5 and 12 December. They will choose what our future is. I ask the citizens to give me the opportunity to rebuild our strong party (...) that hurts in relations with society. We have a reliable relationship with all generations and especially with young people,» Androulakis said.

The party's MEP and candidate for the leadership of the party said the country needs a «realistic progressive policy, ready to confront interests. I have no commitment, I am ready to clash with interests large and small.».

For migration, argued that there is no racist approach, but «it is not acceptable to accept hybrid war from Turkey at our borders and referred to what is happening at the EU's border with Belarus.» He criticized the attitude of the EU and especially of powerful states that undermine the revision of the Dublin Treaty.

Regarding partnerships, Androulakis said that he is ready to discuss with the Centre Left and the Progressive Centre, but he kept clear distances from the SYRIZA, «’The world is one thing and the leadership of the Left is another, who collaborated with Kamenos or held the unacceptable referendum in five days and spoke of imposing on the joints of power. Tsipras is demagoguing, he has no strategic plan for the country».

For his part, the Andreas Loverdos argued that if elected, he would implement a policy bilateral enlargement as a means to grow the party and ruled out any cooperation with SYRIZA. «I am humbled by the question of who you will go with, I want a big PASOK, where the question of a crutch is for everyone, not for us», Loverdos said, noting that «only Tsipras proposes the government perspective because the numbers do not come out. No one has told us about cooperation with the Southwest, nor does it ask us for it. We are not giving the country to ND or PASOK to SYRIZA».

‘He criticised those who say «no to the small KINAL, which is killing the great PASOK, no to the suspicious scenarios of becoming a power again» and called on everyone to vote in the December 5 elections.

Andreas Loverdos insisted on his refusal to Prespa agreement, inviting the other candidates to state whether they are against or in favour and whether they consider it a model for the resolution of Greek-Turkish issues. He made it clear that he is against Skopje's European perspective and that it will vote against the memoranda provided for in the Prespa agreement.

The candidate for the leadership of the Movement for Change, when asked in the last cycle what he would do if he is defeated, stressed that he has «module resume» and proved it in 2015, 2012 and 2007 when, despite his choices, he remained in the party and concluded by talking about the need for KINAL to address the youth, but this is not possible with «newcomers», as he said.

Mr. Loverdos and Mr. Androulakis have avoided getting their act together, keeping an eye on the second round. Thus, Andreas Loverdos preferred to address a question to Pavlos Geroulanos on the possibility of electronic voting. For his part, Nikos Androulakis asked the Harry Castanides for the green transition and de-lignification, and the choices of the Southwest government in Northern Greece, which is interpreted as an opening to those who prefer Mr.Kastanidis.