Active participation of Hadjiperos in progressive convergence efforts

A strong message of unity and political cooperation was sent out from Cholargos - Papagos, in the context of an open political debate organized by the Cholargos-Papagos Initiative for the Reconstruction of the Progressive Area, with mass participation of citizens and strong political interest.

The event highlighted the need for the convergence of progressive forces and the formation of a common framework for political cooperation in the face of the social and institutional challenges of the period.

The discussion was attended by political executives from different areas of the progressive arc, including Dionysis Teboneras (SYRIZA - PC), Efi Achtsioglou (New Left), Theo Margaritis (PASOK - Movement for Change), Petros Kokkalis (KOSMOS), as well as Takis Hatziparos (PRATO).

«Political transcendence is the big issue,» Dionysis Teboneras said in his speech from SYRIZA PS, calling on the parties to redefine themselves through this goal. He stressed that there is no time and the danger of a new four-year term of the right-wing is on the horizon. Citizens must set the framework for the reconstitution and re-foundation of another left. There should be concrete proposals from below and grassroots initiatives, while the persons and roles will be decided through democratic processes. Alexis Tsipras can make a significant contribution to this effort.

«No one alone can bring down the right,» said Efi Achtsioglou, stressing that there is a need for the formation of an area that will give the answer to the right. She added that at the moment, the body and the democratic pan-struggle needed to defeat the New Democracy is missing, while arguing that movements that highlight what divides us do not work, instead «we must all focus on how we can move forward together». There is no room for self-righteous logic, he said, while warning that time is running out. The political dilemmas are relentless and we must «reflect on our responsibility.».

«Most of us in our parties have sloppy answers and great certainty», Theodoros Margaritis of PASOK-KINAL argued, citing as important initiatives the event on the environment in Serafio and the call of N. Androulakis for rallying for Article 86. He argued that we must put aside the petty bickering and who is right. The line of an autonomous course should not mean isolationism, he said, among other things, noting that there is potential for common ground and that “the issue of progressive governance must be opened up”.

«Apart from the departure of Mitsotakis, we must focus on what we will do,» said Cosmos secretary Petros Kokkalis. «We need to be more specific and speak in terms of real politics.» He also argued that «the time has come to sit down at the table to talk about real problems and commit to concrete things.

Finally, Takis Hadjiperos from Pratto, former Deputy Governor of Attica and a familiar face of the local government of the Attica islands, referred to foreign policy issues, stressing that «Pratto's dna is cooperation».

The turnout showed that there is mobility and expectation for substantial cooperation in the progressive space. From the side of the Initiative, it was stressed that the efforts of the common path will continue, aiming at the formation of stable conditions for dialogue and coordinated political initiatives.