N. Androulakis: Unimaginable sloppiness of the government

The president of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, characterized as unacceptable the appearance of fighters of the Azov Order in front of the national delegation immediately after the message of the Ukrainian President, in the context of the interview he gave to the Journal of the Editors.

“We have stood by the people of Ukraine from the beginning, in the face of the barbaric invasion and crimes against humanity, shocked by what we have seen in recent days. After all, our people have similar experiences with the tragedy of Attila’s invasion of Cyprus. “It is unacceptable to give a step beyond the President of Ukraine to soldiers in the Azov Order and it underscores the unthinkable sloppiness of the government,” Androulakis said.

Referring to the energy crisis, he underlined the proposals that PASOK – Movement for Change has consistently presented in the last quarter.

“The ease with which the government initially insulted my positions is impressive and afterwards Mr. Mitsotakis hypocritically acknowledged their importance. Interventions for the benefit of the society that did not dare to implement due to its ideology. smooth lignite decoupling without tying the country to natural gas in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, as well as the need to reduce VAT on basic goods, and, of course, the not in wholesale unlike N.D. ” said Mr. Androulakis.

As for the debate on post-election cooperation, he reiterated that “on the night of the first elections, we will all face our responsibilities. the country in instability “.

On May 8, as Nikos Androulakis pointed out, the members of the Movement will have the opportunity to choose the name of the party in the upcoming national elections. “I never believed that our name and symbols were the reason why the citizens turned their backs on PASOK, but attitudes and political practices that hurt them. I will not allow this to happen again. We are forging a new, unmediated relationship of trust,” he added. President of PASOK-Movement for Change.

The following is the full text of the interview of the president of PASOK-Movement for Change:

– You exercise strong criticism in the N.D. and personally to Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Recently, with the phrase “I will not give a life preserver to a sinking government”, you also rejected the possibility of a partnership, in case of lack of autonomy. Is the current government so bad as to permanently close the chapter on a future government with it?

The Greek people experience daily the failed and discriminatory policies of the N.D. The government made the fourth largest fiscal expansion in the world with 43 billion euros, but Greece is among the four countries in the eurozone with lower GDP than in 2019. Now the government is running out of fuel, leaving much of society unprotected from accuracy and energy crisis. The ease with which the government initially insulted my positions is impressive and afterwards Mr. Mitsotakis hypocritically acknowledged their importance. Interventions for the benefit of society that did not dare to implement due to its ideology. I am referring to the taxation of the super profits of energy companies, to the smoother detoxification from lignite without tying the country to natural gas in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, as well as to the need to reduce VAT on basic goods. And of course the ceiling in the adjustment clause, which we insist on being imposed on the retail price and not on the wholesale price, in contrast to N.D.

– On the other hand, the closing of the door in the N.D. opens the window of cooperation with SYRIZA, as many have already thought, and Alexis Tsipras constantly suggests you. After all, you both see developments from a progressive point of view, while social democracy can be a common field…

Mr. Tsipras is only interested in returning to power. In fact, he is teaching us lessons of progressiveness, while he had strategically chosen the far-right Mr. Kammenos as a government partner after two electoral contests. The way it is governed has nothing to do with social democracy, because it distributes promises without a program, and therefore without reciprocation. The reason why the government of N.D. does not collapse. under the weight of its failure is because a large part of society is terrified of the possibility of the return of Mr. Tsipras. Our priority is to put aside the Mitsotaki-Tsipras scenarios and to present to the Greek people a credible proposal for a social democratic government, which will address inequalities by strengthening the welfare state. It will strengthen democratic institutions for more meritocracy and transparency, but it will also create a competitive and sustainable productive base for many good jobs for young people.

– Therefore, Mr. Androulaki, what do you suggest? You are asking for a social democratic program and people of “high credibility”, excluding for the position of their prime ministers Mr. Mitsotakis and Tsipras. With whom and how will this be made possible? Are you finally calling for elections?

The political correlations will be determined by the Greek people with their vote. We will not give a second chance to people who failed to bring better days for the country. Obviously we want elections to give the people the opportunity to implement our program. We will be ready whenever they happen. However, in order not to play with words, as some people are accustomed to, you know very well that when they will be done, it is decided by the respective prime minister and not by the opposition.

– What if they do not accept? Who will be responsible for the instability and the second elections? Do you not want to rule, preferring the confidence of the opposition?

On the night of the first elections, we will all face our responsibilities. It will show who really wants government stability with the prospect of a better future and who is obsessed with vanity and their chairs, leading the country to instability.

– A few days ago you visited Portugal and met with the Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa. What do you keep from this appointment? Will you meet with other Social Democrat leaders and what is the use of social democracy in the current situation?

Portugal, with Antonio Costa at its helm, is a model of social democratic governance. I had the opportunity to meet him and a number of his ministers, who were responsible for formulating the plan for the Recovery Fund. They came in later than us in the Memorandum and poorer, they came out earlier and richer. During the pandemic they took targeted measures with criteria and with a limited impact on their public debt, in contrast to the government of N.D. What I also kept in mind is the importance they place on investing in the welfare state, as they perceive their positive imprint on society and the economy. This is also reflected in the plan to deal with the rising cost of housing, which they included in the Recovery Fund. Utilizing part of the loans, they proceed to the construction of 26,000 houses for rent for the most vulnerable households and 7,000 additional houses in the big cities for rent at affordable prices that are addressed to the middle class and break away from the traditional model of social housing we are used to. At the same time, tax breaks for landlords and a rent subsidy program aimed exclusively at those under 35 ensure that more young people can start their lives with dignity.

– You complete four months at the helm of PASOK-KIN.ALL. and during this time your project of self-organization is in progress. What is the stakes of this process and what are the stakes – the goals of the May conference?

PASOK was the first party in the political life of the Metapolitism to speak in the heart of Greek society. Today, with the self-organization of our Movement, we utilize our best traditions to build the democratic party of the future. Last Sunday we had the first regional conference in Thessaloniki, where we discussed our positions on the National Health System. On May 8, we elect the local organizations, the representatives for our conference that will take place from May 20 to 22. At the same time, we are starting the digital party which is the means to reconnect with society and to be in constant dialogue with it. I want PASOK to become again an open party, a People’s Movement that will be organically connected to the anxieties and hopes of the progressive world.

– You announced a referendum on the name of the party. What is the proposal? Will you return to PASOK?

From the first moment I have made it clear that the name of our Movement will be decided collectively and democratically. For this reason, on May 8, our members will have the opportunity to choose it. I never believed that our name and symbols were the reason why the citizens turned their backs on PASOK, but attitudes and political practices that hurt them. I will not allow this to happen again. We are forging a new, unmediated relationship of trust.

– More than forty days after the Russian invasion, do you consider that all the necessary actions were taken – at the Greek and European level – to stop this evolving barbarism? How do you comment on the intervention of a “fighter” of the Azov Order in Parliament?

Dependence on Russian gas and oil unfortunately undermines any attempt to put pressure on the Russian government to stop this barbaric invasion. Despite sanctions, we have imported 36 billion euros worth of fossil fuels from Russia, effectively continuing to fund the war. So that is where we need to focus, so that there is a transition without hurting the European productive base and cohesion. We have stood by the people of Ukraine from the beginning, in the face of the barbaric invasion and the crimes against humanity, shocked by what we have seen in recent days. After all, our people have similar experiences with the tragedy of Attila’s invasion of Cyprus. However, giving a step beyond the President of Ukraine to soldiers in the Azov Order was unacceptable and underscores the unthinkable sloppiness of the government.