“The issue must be closed with an apology policy of the ND, of Mrs. Bakoyannis, Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Skertsos,” said the SYRIZA MP candidate on the “Today” program of SKAI. Nikos Philison the occasion of the issue that has arisen with the SYRIZA MP candidates in Rodopi.

In detail, Mr. Filis emphasized:

“The matter must be closed with an apology for the policy of the ND, of Mrs. Bakoyannis who went up and said these unacceptable words “vote for us to help you”, of Mr. Mitsotakis who has unfortunately done what he has done with KYPatzidic methods and of course from Mr. Schertsos who talked about national exception.

SYRIZA has a clear position: The minority is Muslim with three components: one is Turkic, one is Pomak and one is Roma.

The citizens of Thrace have a right to individual self-determination as members of the Muslim minority. Our MPs do not represent a single part of the minority, nor the minority, nor only Rhodope. Based on the Constitution, they represent the entire Nation, Mr. Filis emphasized.

He then noted that “Mr. Ahmet Ilhan in 2006 declared that he is a Turkish minority. When he was a candidate with Mrs. Bakoyani, her party received 18% in Rodopi, while in the whole of Greece it received around 2.5%. Also, Mr. Boran declared last year that there is a Turkish minority. It’s not the first time they sound like that” he commented/

At the same time, he expressed SYRIZA’s support for the two MPs: We have complete confidence in our MPs. They have been members of our party for years, we know them. We do not sign certificates of national pride that Mr. Mitsotakis wants. This is what Michaloliakos asked for.”

Finally, Mr. Filis argued that “Mr. Mitsotakis is doing this to collect far-right votes throughout Greece and also wants to divert the political debate which should be about health, education, the problems of daily life and not the SYRIZA MPs”.

For his part, the ND parliamentary candidate, Kostis Hatzidakis he emphasized that “the issue could have been over if SYRIZA had taken a position on the issue. If the ND did not speak, we would have two deputies in the Parliament who would speak for the Turkish minority.”