“Beyond political and partisan differences, there must be a red line in terms of the admission of all parties of the democratic arc not to allow foreign powers to interfere in our domestic affairs for their own purposes. It is obvious, there is a direct involvement of the Turkish consulate in the electoral process in Rodopi for the election of a specific candidate chosen by SYRIZA”, said ND candidate Yannis Oikonomou to SKAI and the show “Kalimera” with Giorgos Autias.

“They have to redefine their tactics a little bit around that. It is unacceptable – over and above our political differences – to open the back door for foreign powers to intervene in the country’s internal affairs. These are issues that need to be handled with due responsibility. We must not allow Turkey’s attempts to interfere in Greek internal affairs, using the minority, in any way,” he added.

Regarding the possibility of a third ballot, Mr. Economou argued that “on the 25th of the month, Greece votes on who will govern the country. And as things are today after the first ballot, after the positions of the parties after the result, it is clear that there is a way for the country to continue its upward path in a climate of stability and security. Strong, secure independence of the ND, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This is the only viable proposition.”

Economou: Salary and pension increases are costed

“The next measures are fully costed within the framework of the medium term”, added Mr. Economou, stressing that there will be increases in wages and pensions that are fully costed with the fiscal space that exists every year, “so that at the end of the four years we converge even more with the European average. What has not been properly measured and weighed does not enter the Prime Minister’s mouth. The Prime Minister who reduced 50 taxes is the Prime Minister who when he says I will raise wages, he will raise them,” said the ND parliamentary candidate.

“We implemented a policy mix where we didn’t raise any taxes, we achieved double the growth rates of the rest of Europe and we stood by Greek society,” he added.

“They fell and ate Mr. Katrougalos who confessed the obvious. When you see an 88 billion program where will it come from if they implement it? asked Mr. Economou

Economou: Erdogan insists on the blue homeland

On the occasion of Erdogan’s inauguration, Mr. Economou noted that “the Prime Minister and the government greatly strengthened Greece, economically, geopolitically, geostrategically. They strengthened Greece too much so that it cannot be blackmailed in last-minute dilemmas, so that the games of the opposite side do not go through, also instrumentalizing hybrid issues, such as the refugee and immigration issues. The latest developments with Erdoğan’s insistence on the blue homeland highlight even more imperatively how important it is to have a solid, responsible leadership at the helm of the country, a Prime Minister who has strengthened the country’s prestige internationally. A Prime Minister who proved during the previous four years that blackmail, dilemmas, attacks, distortion of reality, do not pass. Our country succeeded not only in strengthening militarily but in deconstructing the arguments of the Turkish side everywhere.”

“We are adamant on the issues concerning our sovereignty and our sovereign rights. The important thing is that we can support this national policy”, added Mr. Economou