On ANT1«s program »Enopios Enopio,” the president of PASOK-Movement for Change spoke, Nikos Androulakis. Regarding his personal commitment and goals as party leader, he stated that he aims to create the conditions for a new, trustworthy relationship with the Greek people. «To prove that politics—and through my own personal journey—offers solutions and is not a corrupt class whose only interest is staying in power.”. I ran for office last summer, not to act as a go-between for New Democracy and SYRIZA. I was a candidate to lead PASOK-Movement for Change. I ran for office because I want this party to turn a new page in our country, and I believe I can make that happen. I want us to once again become a force that will play a governing role, take the lead, and implement social democratic governance.
»I say to all citizens that I have a duty and an obligation to be ready, and I will be ready,« commented Mr. Androulakis regarding the leading role the Movement aspires to play, adding: ‘For me, a good prime minister is someone who knows what is happening in the world. ‘Therefore, by being aware of international developments, he knows how to seize opportunities for his country and avoid missteps. Also, A good prime minister is one who does not govern with his inner circle, as we have seen with Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Mitsotakis, but governs in an open, institutional manner, through participatory democracy. A good prime minister is one who is free from outside influences and puts the public interest above all else. I am ready to take on any establishment—big or small—that keeps my country trapped in the past.».
Regarding the discussion on post-election alliances, the president of PASOK-KINAL stated that there is no way he would form an alliance just to secure seats. «I believe that social democratic ideas are more beneficial for Greece and Europe than the ideas of Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Tsipras. I speak with concrete proposals, but I hear no substantive policy discourse—only imitations. Since Mr. Tsipras believes that the person whose party comes in first should be prime minister, let him form a coalition government with Mr. Mitsotakis—let him make him prime minister,» Mr. Androulakis emphasized. .
He described his strategy by saying that It would be best for Greece to have a social democratic government. As he argued: «A social democratic government means respect for institutions and for quality democracy. People are fed up with the clientelist state. People are tired of seeing New Democracy and SYRIZA compete over who has the most appointed officials—2,800 for one and 3,200 for the other. They’re tired of the toxic atmosphere in Parliament. They are constantly at odds over universities, human rights, and national issues. »We are a force for progress and realism that seeks to build unity.” And he added emphatically:
«We are different parties. One is a party of the communist Left, another is a party of European social democracy, and yet another is the neoliberal party of the European Right. What do I say to the Greek people? You have three options on the table. Choose. Do you want Mr. Tsipras as prime minister? Do you want Mr. Mitsotakis as prime minister? Do you want neither of them? Do you want to give us a chance to form a social democratic government? Anyone who wants Mr. Tsipras as prime minister should vote for SYRIZA. Anyone who wants Mr. Mitsotakis as prime minister should vote for NW. ». Not us. Things are very, very simple.".
When asked to comment on Turkey’s escalating provocations, Mr. Androulakis pointed out that «driven by his thirst to cling to power, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will do anything. He will exploit the refugee crisis, Finland and Sweden’s desire to join NATO, issues related to Cyprus, and human rights within Turkey. He will exploit the war in Ukraine. We must not allow Mr. Erdogan to blackmail Greece and all of Europe,» he stated emphatically, highlighting his proposal for a European arms embargo against Turkey and for targeted sanctions against members of the Erdogan government and Turkish businesspeople who support the regime.
He strongly criticized the prime minister for a lack of consultation and consensus on national issues.
«If Mr. Mitsotakis wants consensus on national issues, there must be open dialogue, not what happened the day before yesterday.”. It is shameful for the Greek prime minister that the German chancellor and the U.S. secretary of defense are the ones informing us of what he intends to do. ». This is unthinkable!” emphasized the president of PASOK-Movement for Change regarding the shipment of new weapons to Ukraine.
«European countries cannot be divided into good and bad—those friendly to Russia and those opposed to Russia. There must be a common strategy, so any weapons we send to Ukraine from now on must be coordinated through a common European mechanism,» added Mr. Androulakis.
Regarding the Movement’s finances, Mr. Androulakis noted that, due to PASOK’s debts, he has been unable to obtain a loan for 12 years. «All of PASOK's loans were taken out before the economic crisis. Since the economic crisis began, it has not taken out a single euro in loans.. And I, as secretary and president, have not taken out a single euro in loans. PASOK’s debts amount to 100 million in principal, and the rest is interest. I had pledged before the elections that I would fight to restructure our debts and show that, even though my generation did not create them, it is taking on the burden of resolving them, and that a large portion of our funding goes to the banks so that we can be accountable to the Greek people. Today, on your show, I’m saying that we’ve restructured the loans based on market criteria, without any special categories.».
In response to statements made from time to time by its officials SYRIZA regarding his finances PASOK, Mr. Androulakis pointedly remarked that «they can invite Mr. Ragousis and Ms. Xenogiannakopoulou—who were PASOK secretaries at the time—for coffee at the Koumoundourou headquarters. It was during their time that these massive loans were taken out. They are better suited to inform the public, as well as Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Polakis. And I’m saying this to be clear. If some people think that just because they left PASOK, their actions and responsibilities are erased and shifted onto me—who stayed through the tough times and I have not charged the Greek people a single euro, as I was never part of the patronage-based state, just like the rest of my generation, as I am truly striving to revive and revitalize the political faction of Andreas Papandreou—whose name some people are now using even though they belong to the party that tried to put him in prison— have some shame, Mr. Hatzinikolaou.».
The president of PASOK–Movement for Change reiterated his call for unity and solidarity with democratic citizens. «Obviously, citizens can switch parties. We disappointed many of them when they saw authoritarian behavior, patronage networks, flawed policy choices, and new inequalities, and they looked elsewhere for hope. Whether they’ve found it now or not is another matter. So I say to these people that the doors are open to a new beginning—one we’re building with new people, based on trust, so that we can rebuild our shared future together. But be careful—and I said this in my own speech as well—not with those who behaved in an unacceptable manner toward the party. People who claimed that Tsipras was the most dishonest prime minister since the restoration of democracy, and a year later were top-tier SYRIZA officials. Who said that the biggest fraud of the post-dictatorship era is, in the end, the SYRIZA–Independent Greeks government. ‘SYRIZA MPs today, standing alongside Mr. Tsipras,» Mr. Androulakis remarked.
Mr. Androulakis reiterated the proposal by PASOK-Movement for Change regarding the imposing a cap on the retail price of electricity and criticized the government's policy on taxing the windfall profits of energy companies.
