“It is not only Giorgos Katrougalos, who is a decent person, I have worked with him. There is something tax-inducing in SYRIZA’s DNA” said the Secretary of State, Nikos Dendiasspeaking to SKAI 100.3 and journalists, Vasilis Chiotis and Noti Papadopouloson the occasion of Katrougalos statement which raised a storm of reactions for an increase in the contributions of the self-employed.

To the journalists’ comment that the Katrougalou case helped the ruling party, Mr. Dendia replied “we will see if it helped” and added: “Let the middle class remember what they suffered when SYRIZA was in power. Mr. Katrougalos has a consistent position, one can disagree with him, but he is consistent.”

And he continued: “I think that SYRIZA believes what Mr. Katrougalos says, if he renounces it now is another matter.”

For the attack received by Dionysis Savvopoulos because he spoke to SKAI in favor of ND and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mr. Dendias noted that Mr. Savvopoulos is an artist and can say whatever he wants.

He added that he is one of the most important lyricists and potential poets of his generation, he is a huge talent.

“Is it possible to judge someone for expressing a political position? Alas!” emphasized Mr. Dendias.

For dominance Erdogan in Turkey the foreign minister noted that he told his interlocutors before the election not to pay attention to the opinion polls that predicted Erdogan’s defeat.

He also commented that he was drawing attention to those who envisioned the epitome of democracy in the Turkish opposition: Remember that the invasion of Cyprus took place under Etcevit who came from the republican party, Mr. Dendias characteristically said.

On whether a dialogue window has opened between Greece and Turkey, Mr. Dendias said: “Mr. Erdogan has various faces during his long presidential term. It depends on whether he himself chooses the period of Greco-Turkish warmth or acidity as his last name. I would hope so, but I can never be sure, Greece must be ready. There is a window that should become a door of meeting and discussion about our one and only difference”.

He added that things must change, that Erdogan has nothing to lose anymore. “I feel there is an opportunity. And from our side there will be a prime minister who wants dialogue. And maybe an opposition that cannot believe that we can always be in the trenches” said Mr. Dendias.

Regarding the post-election cooperation, Mr. Dendias emphasized that “we say that we want strengthened proportional representation, one party in the government and our leader as prime minister”.