“We are all fighting together again. Today, Thessaloniki gives its own “presence” in the battle of democracy and justice. And we are all here! Present and present”, stressed the president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Alexis Tsipras, at the beginning of his speech at the pre-election rally in the port of Thessaloniki.

Watch live the speech of the president of SYRIZA:

“You are allowed to fall, you are forced to get up. And we are already standing. We are fighting. With our own weapons. Our values ​​and principles. Our dedication to justice, democracy, equality. Our love for man”, he said and continued: “And today we are in the last turn of a difficult, but also beautiful battle. A critical battle. The battle for the overthrow. Of fighting today to protect tomorrow. And we are learned in these battles. We are taught to give “present” when democracy, country, justice ask for it. We have always done it, no matter how many persecutions, no matter how much slander, no matter how much repression that meant. We do it today. And we will do it until the last second of this match. Because these polls will determine who will govern the country in the next four years. With what program, what means, what perspective. And who and how, with what force will give strength to the social resistances. He will keep society upright and its expectations intact, stand by the weak, those who do not have a voice”.

Mr. Tsipras referred to the dilemmas of Sunday’s elections and underlined: “Sunday’s elections will judge our lives for the next four years, but they will also judge the quality of our democracy. And the dilemmas are hard. The system of enhanced proportionality makes them hard, which gives a bonus of 50 seats to the first party. Because on Sunday we don’t have the second round of the previous match. We have a new showdown. With another electoral system. And only two are the alternative plans of power and governance that face each other on Sunday. Which reflect two different perceptions. Two different visions, if you will, for Greece. Our vision. The vision of SYRIZA-PS and the vision of ND. Our vision is the vision of a country and a society of humanity, democracy and justice. A country and a society in which all people and all lives will count the same. A country and an economy where the wealth produced will increase and be shared fairly and equally among the citizens. A country that will not have children and children in the opportunities of education, health, work, progress. With equal opportunities for all. A country whose citizens will not die in a farmer’s cart, because there are no ambulances and rescuers. A country whose rule will be humanity and the support of the state for all its people, regardless of their economic potential. A country that will not eat its best children, will not send the police to suppress their dreams, will not treat as an internal enemy anyone who resists power. A country that will not trade its history and culture. He will not treat art as an enemy and its people as unprofessional and riotous. A country with strong institutions, entrenched democracy, strong social state. With workers who will live, work and be paid in conditions of dignity and security. Where small and medium-sized entrepreneurs will not be burdened by taxes to enrich the cartels. Where a new couple will be able to have children whenever they wish, because they will have support from the State”.

He presented the plan and vision of SYRIZA-PS for a fair society with prosperity for all, saying that “this plan stands against Mr. Mitsotakis’ Right-wing program, which puts the profits of the few above the lives of the many.”

“A plan and a program of Mr. Mitsotakis, who wants development to come through tax breaks and hot government money to the powerful, with a parallel reduction in labor costs. From the eviction of the state from critical sectors of social and economic life to give space to profit-making funds. Because, they say, that when the powerful and the funds increase their profits, then growth will come. And after development comes, we will all share the benefits. This is the ND recipe. A recipe, however, that has cost tears, blood, injustices, social destruction, wherever it was applied on the planet. Why, cheap development, which leaves the great social majority on the sidelines. Development that respects neither the environment, nor workers, nor democracy. Often not even human life. Neither natural nor human resources. It is an unsustainable development. Unlivable for many. Doomed to produce crises, social tensions and a frightening widening of inequalities. This is exactly why the ND is trying to hide this cruel and barbaric core of its program”, pointed out the president of SYRIZA-PS.