Her resignation from the «any party affiliation» from New Democracy submitted by the former -now- Minister of Citizen Protection Ioanna Gelestathi to the party president, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
She announced her decision to leave by posting on social networks.
In her statement, Mrs. Gelestathi says that the developments of the last few days «left me no choice but to to safeguard my dignity, honour and reputation.».
«I will not tolerate anyone attempting to deconstructing any political path I may have taken.», underlines and notes that «the party is not an end in itself, but a vehicle for serving the country and its citizens».
The post of Ioanna Gelestathi
A few hours ago I submitted to the President of the New Democracy, Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis, my resignation from all party membership, including that of a simple member.
The painful decision to leave the party which has been my home from the day I was born until today was led to the painful decision by the developments of the last few days which left me no choice but to preserve my dignity, honour and reputation.
I should have long ago realized the political, value and psychological rift that has developed over time between the leadership and myself, but my excessive party patriotism and my long loyalty to the person of the current President of New Democracy did not allow me to do so.
I leave with a clear conscience knowing that I have given everything to the best of my ability and strength to New Democracy without ever having demanded or received anything in return.
I would like to point out that I will not tolerate anyone attempting to deconstruct my political career and my personality, as I have acted throughout my career with genuine patriotism and a desire to offer my fellow citizens, with ideological purity and political ethics and, above all, with absolute honesty and clean hands, far from cheap opportunism, party intrigues and political blackmail.
I also point out that on the one hand, the party is composed of ideas, principles and values from which I will not depart as long as I live, and it is a broader concept than the party, which is sometimes composed of mechanisms, conclaves and intrigues that expel anyone who is inspired by political health.
Finally, I point out that the party is not an end in itself but a vehicle for serving the Homeland and its citizens, at least for those who do not depend on it for their survival or their existence, but also for those who do not have skeletons in their closet.
I thank from the bottom of my heart all those who believed in me and joined me in my individual struggles with the conviction that I never betrayed them, with the wish that I never disappointed them and with the belief that the time will come to meet again in common battles for our ideals.
