N. Iliopoulos: The most massive conference in the history of SYRIZA, gives the signal of political change

The SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance congress marks the political change that is imminent, stressed the party’s spokesman, Nassos Iliopoulos, in the aftermath of the party’s third congress, which closed yesterday.

Speaking about “the most massive conference that SYRIZA has ever held”, he noted (ERT1) that “we come out of the conference with 5 + 1 clear program axes for the progressive government of the next day, proposals that are simultaneously addressed, as a basis for dialogue, to any progressive democratic force. ”

Asked about the political developments, he estimated that “we have been in a prolonged pre-election period for a long time, in any case it is clear – and from society now – that the time for political change has come”. “The time for political change has come because the month does not come out, because Greece, according to Eurostat data, is twice above the European average of electricity increases, because in the EU the average increase in food is 5 % and in our country it exceeds 15% “, underlined Nassos Iliopoulos and added:” we are dealing with a dangerous government, 3 years of Mitsotakis government mean 3 billion cuts in pensions “.

Regarding the minimum wage, he reiterated that “at the moment Greece is the only country in the eurozone that has a minimum wage lower than it had in 2010, while all eurozone countries with two exceptions – Greece is one – “In 2020 and 2021 they increased the minimum wage.” “According to the data of INE-GSEE, those who are on the basic salary, only in January lost 14% of their purchasing power. So when we propose the increase of the minimum to 800 euros, it is first of all because it is a basic means for the citizens to meet the daily needs “, explained Nassos Iliopoulos. He also reminded that “when in 2019 the SYRIZA government increased the minimum by 27% for those under 25 and 11% in total, and public revenues improved and consumption increased”.

Responding to the government’s claim that the current crisis of accuracy was caused by international developments and the war in Ukraine, he stressed: “the real results of the war so far have not been experienced by the Greek economy.” “However, the prices of fertilizers have more than doubled since October, long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Since August, Greece has been a negative champion in the wholesale price of electricity”, commented Nasos Iliopoulos.

Stressing the measures that must be implemented immediately, he said: “The ‘skyrocketing’ profits in the energy market must be taxed immediately, as Italy, France, Germany and Spain are already doing.” “If one compares the wholesale price with production price, will find that in the last seven months the energy companies in Greece have profits that reach 1.5 billion. It is not possible for RAE not to give the data for so long, it is not possible for Mr. Mitsotakis to play hide and seek with the profits “In the energy market, essentially supporting the notoriety,” said Nasos Iliopoulos. “So there are clear responsibilities of the government for all this and the citizens will send the bill to Maximou – this bill will not have installments, it will be one out,” he said characteristically.

Asked about the decisions of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance conference, he pointed out that “the political decision was voted unanimously and the central statutory changes proposed by Alexis Tsipras, to elect the KE and the President of the party from all members, were approved by a large majority”. “At the same time, the provision for 50/50 representation of women and men in all the organs of the party was approved by an overwhelming majority,” he added. “Obviously, SYRIZA-PS will continue to have a lively democratic dialogue and different views within it, it is a feature that we will guard. We are not a party of the only truth”, noted Nassos Iliopoulos.

Finally, he called on the government to respond “to the revelations of the last few days, based on complaints and reports, that the EYP, which reports to the Office of the Prime Minister, was watching the journalist Thanasis Koukakis, a man who collaborates with international media and does investigative reporting. “. “We are waiting for the government to answer why they were watching a journalist, if they were watching others, we want to understand why Mr. Mitsotakis behaves in a European country like Putin – and be sure that they will apologize for that. “, underlined the spokesman of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance.