A. Tsipras: Mr. Mitsotakis brought the energy crisis before the war

Developments in Ukraine are at the center of the SYRIZA Political Council, with Alexis Tsipras already attacking the Prime Minister for the energy crisis and accuracy. In his presentation, the party president made extensive reference to internal party issues as well.

In this context, according to party sources, A. Tsipras said, among other things:

Ukraine

-Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine militarily, the blatant violation of international law, give rise to extremely worrying developments, with very serious global consequences.

First of all, a fierce economic war is taking place between Russia and the West. Which will exacerbate the already generalized energy crisis and consequently the accuracy crisis in all consumer products.

I am very concerned about the dangers for the country in a wider environment of instability.

First of all, for energy efficiency and accuracy judgment.

I think that the latest development will exacerbate the already severe crisis in which we have found Mitsotakis responsibly, before the war clouds in Ukraine thicken.

Inflation climbed to 6.2% in January, with a staggering rise in gas prices, a record price for fuel, electricity bills and a 20% increase in basic consumer goods.
Following the developments in Ukraine, we will not simply have a crisis of accuracy but a substantial inability of households and businesses to cope, unless there is immediate intervention.
And a very serious risk of energy security and adequacy.

Here we must point out beyond the wider weaknesses of the EU, and the very big mistakes that the Mitsotakis government has already made. The hasty, unplanned, violent depoliticization, the commitment through loans with a green clause of our energy mixture even more than natural gas, the impossibility of substantial negotiation with the Russian side for cheaper gas prices (in Greece DEPA already pays 30% more expensive than neighboring Bulgaria (Russian gas), given that the possibilities for cheaper gas in relation to the quantities we need are limited (Azeri gas and from the LNG in Revythousa), the privatization of PPC and electricity networks.

All these options brought the crisis much earlier than the war in Ukraine. And now, obviously, this crisis will get worse.

SYRIZA PS must maintain an attitude of principles, towards the war, towards the logic of the imposition of force and violence. At the same time, however, we must maintain an attitude of principle in relation to our perception of the role of Greece in our region.

Let us boldly explain to the world that precisely because the developments are what they are, the country can not have as a dogma of foreign policy the “advanced outpost” of the West to the East, as Mr. Mitsotakis said. But it must, especially now, maintain and strengthen the doctrine of the “bridge” between East and West, the “pillar of stability” in the region.

And this doctrine requires an active and multidimensional foreign policy, which will give weight to diplomacy. We do not ignore the need for adequate defense and the necessary equipment, but the country’s strategy can not be only equipment and not diplomacy, only equipment and not dialogue, not the use of international law to resolve our differences in the fields that it defines.

Such an attitude of principle, as time goes by and as the impasses of war conflicts become apparent, can become stronger and win in Greek society.

And the attitude of the authorities towards these developments must be maintained by the country: To condemn the military interventions, to support international law and, of course, to fulfill its commitments as an EU and NATO country, but as a country with a distinct identity. , fighting for peace and diplomacy.

Turkish aid

Let us not overlook the fact that Turkey may emerge stronger from these developments. Erdogan has found an opportunity through this crisis to show the United States how useful he is to them. Therefore, those who believed that Turkey is isolating itself and the Greek shield and our alliances with other countries in the region, on their own will be able to limit it, those who believed that the logic of procrastination diplomacy can give us some benefit, I think are not justified .

Our position on Turkey, then, must be clear.

Clear red lines, defense of international law, rejection of the rhetoric of the revision of the International Treaties but at the same time dialogue and diplomacy and the search for opportunities for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially when we are in a time of global instability.

SYRIZA positions

– First, an unequivocal condemnation of the Russian invasion, violation of international law, and military operations in Ukraine.

– Secondly, to emphasize the need for the EU to regain its role in geopolitical developments, to seek a peaceful settlement of disputes and to defend international law. To use all the diplomatic means at its disposal to end the military operations, to withdraw the military forces from the areas it has occupied in order to return to the path of peace and diplomacy.

– Third, do not forget that we have a very important Greek community in the region. To constantly emphasize the need for active support of the Ukrainian community and for the government to take initiatives.

Fourth, Greece to act as a European pillar of peace and stability, actively supporting the return to the diplomatic path. Which means no participation of Greek armed forces in military operations.

– And finally, fifth, the Mitsotakis government to take responsibility for restoring energy security and adequacy, to stop multiplying the crisis with its disastrous choices in energy, to put an end to the huge increases in household and business tariffs.

In this regard, in addition to our commitment to restore “D” to PPC, ie to restore the operation of PPC in order to benefit the common good and protect consumers, to return to public debate and radical solutions. Because in conditions like today, radical solutions are the realistic solutions.

I will give only one example. Macron’s government in France, which no one can describe as a socialist government, has chosen, of course, having a majority in the French Public Electricity Company, to set a 4% ceiling and from there freeze any increase in tariffs.

It has also chosen, in a letter to the Commission, which was accepted, to temporarily suspend the operation of the energy exchange for the duration of the crisis.

So there is no energy market and no chance of profiteering on the already increased prices and what exists is a public electricity company that has set a ceiling on increases.

Inside the party – SYRIZA

We are one and a half months before the conference. The first thing I want to say and I want to be very clear is that we owe it to the quality of political dialogue on the way to the conference. To guard the camaraderie and unity of the party.

Political dissent is undoubtedly an element of intra-party democracy. And this we must not ignore. We just have to strengthen it.

Insults or immoral disputes are not an element of intra-party democracy. It is a solvent element.

I want to ask you to authorize the secretary of the party and the secretary of the KO, so that from now on any comrade or comrade, I mean a member of the party – I am not talking obviously about our friends but about our members – who does not make a deposit political position or views but in immoral reports abusive towards comrades, to take measures to suspend their party status, at least until the congress.

The second thing I want to say is that there is a debate as you know about how we can, if the proposal I have submitted in the pre-conference dialogue is accepted by the congress, to elect the JC from the party base, how can we the election to become as functional as possible and see, various safety valves.

I also received a letter from secretaries of Prefectural Committees, which speaks of the need as a party as a whole to adopt the logic of decentralization, the regional strategy for the formation of the state, the economy, but also the party.

He concludes, as far as the party is concerned, in the proposal that the election of the members of the Central Committee be done from the base of the party by region, and with the care for the strengthening of the representatives of the mass spaces in order to face the chronic problem of under-representation of the region. organs of the Party.

I think that this concern that has developed is fruitful.

At this juncture, which we are trying to make and adopting the concept of regional strategy for both the state and the economy, is based on the proposal to strengthen the regional representation and formation of the Party.

Therefore, I would like to share my opinion with you, that the formation of the JV, if the Congress decides the direct election of our members, to be held in 13 separate constituencies, which will elect a number proportional to the strength of the party members in each region.

So we will go from about 25% to about 30%, which is traditionally represented in the region, to 50% of the new Central Committee.

“Apart from that, this proposal also ensures the functionality of the vote and at the same time the equal relationship between what we call more prominent executives and less prominent executives.”

*

-SYRIZA: Condemns Russian Invasion – Concern over energy and economic turmoil