Fierce opposition for his ballots SYRIZA broke out between New Democracy and the official opposition party, raising the temperature on the thermometer of political confrontation ahead of the May 21 elections.

New Democracy and personally Kyriakos Mitsotakis, commented on the inclusion of Vangelis Antonaros – at one time the government representative of the government of Kostas Karamanlis – on the SYRIZA ballots, speaking of “lumpen” choices, “some of which cause laughter”.

The prime minister included Nikos Pappas and Pavlos Polakis in the “frame”, saying characteristically:

“Some of SYRIZA’s choices caused laughter rather than seriousness about SYRIZA’s ability to achieve any substantial enlargement. They include Mr. Pappas, who is condemned, they include Mr. Polakis, because after all, obviously SYRIZA expresses “polarization” and its main spokesman could not be missing, as well as a number of other candidates who – what do you say- they refer more to lumpen ballots”.

The comments of Kyriakos Mitsotakis from his tour in Western Thessaloniki provoked the reaction of Koumoundourou. The representative of SYRIZA, Popi Tsapanidou, emphasized:

“Hundreds of our fellow citizens with a long social, scientific and professional path have joined the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance ballot papers.

Mr. Mitsotakis commented that “they cause laughter”. Such an insult to the face of distinguished citizens does not honor the prime minister of the country.

We understand his panic, but we would suggest that he deal with his party’s ballots, which include Mr. Karamanlis of Tempes, Mr. Papathanasis of written off debts, Mr. Kappatos of auctions, Mr. Chimaras of direct assignments, Mr. Avramopoulos of the unspecified and others in a list that has no end. Disappointment for conservative voters … anger for the majority of citizens.”

The Minister of the Interior and vice-president of the ND, Makis Voridis, speaking to SKAI, commented ironically: “We are all shocked by the loss. Mr. Antonaros has for many years enlisted in the support of SYRIZA. Therefore, he is rightly rewarded with this nomination.”

PASOK representative Dimitris Manzos also spoke to SKAI, saying: “I congratulate SYRIZA for choosing the ballots, I wish good success to Mr. Antonaros…. SYRIZA finally proves that it not only does not feel comfortable with the Karamanli wing, but very painfully invests in its most famous exponents”.

Reacting, SYRIZA MP Olga Gerovasili said: “It is not a Karamanli wing. It is Mr. Antonaros. There is a difference. Where should I include Mr. Voridis, who used to be in another party?”

In “red” is the confrontation for Nikos Pappa

Controversy also broke out for Nikos Pappas, after the Special Court made public the reasoning behind the conviction of the former minister and current SYRIZA MP.

New Democracy commented in a statement:

“The publication of the decision of the Special Court for the unanimous and irrevocable conviction of the former Minister, Mr. Nikos Pappas, irreparably exposes not only Mr. Pappas but Mr. Tsipras himself, who defiantly included his former Minister of State in the ballots of SYRIZA, which he announced yesterday.

From the reading of the court decision there is no room for misinterpretation.

The decision states that Mr. Nikos Pappas attempted “with non-transparent procedures to implement the plan that had been drawn up by him, but also by other leading members of the then ruling party (SYRIZA)”.

He also writes that his actions were aimed “at the establishment of a pan-Hellenic television station, which would be controlled by the first defendant and the SYRIZA party apparatus and would promote the political positions and actions of the party and the then government as well as himself as Minister with the aim of exerting influence in their favor on the political orientation of public opinion”, while noting that “he was possessed by a feeling of superiority and sovereignty without awareness of the serious consequences of his actions on the public interest, which he was supposed to serve as a state functionary holding the highest office of the Minister, under the pretense of observing the law and thereby enforcing legitimacy in the television space, acted with the sole purpose of obtaining, through the second defendant whom he guided, in every action of the television station a mouthpiece for the political ideas and actions of the then government of SYRIZA and himself”.

Every reasonable citizen today cannot help but wonder. What is it that binds so strongly Mr. Tsipras and Papa? How is it possible that after such a decision – kolafa that Mr. Tsipras still supports Mr. Pappas, when the latter has been unanimously and irrevocably condemned for a behavior with a specific moral turpitude that offends the democratic functioning as a whole?

Mr. Tsipras must immediately give explanations and give concrete answers that do not offend the intelligence of the citizens. A first imposed move is the expulsion of Mr. Pappas from his party’s ballots.”

Nikos Pappa’s reaction

Nikos Pappas reacted with anger to the publication of the decision of the Special Court.

More specifically he stated:

“The reasoning by the hand of Mrs. Klapa does not bring anything new.

However, it has certain originalities. He completely ignores what happened in the audience, where the witnesses, one after the other, said that they “don’t know”, “didn’t see”, “didn’t hear”.

It bypasses the detailed acquittal proposal of the Special Court prosecutor, as well as the acquittal decision for Lefteris Kretsos in the same case.

The only usefulness of the rationale is that of the pre-election brochure of New Democracy. It has as much value as Mitsotakis commitments.
We wonder, don’t we, if the meetings with the Areopagite Janerico are the only ones that have happened. We insist.

Whether our wealthy fellow citizens will pay taxes and abide by the Constitution will not be decided by either the outgoing Mr. Mitsotakis or Mrs. Klapa from whatever position she aspires to be.

It will be decided by the Greek people in a few days, which will bring justice to the judiciary as well.”