Her statement of Nikos Philis, that Stefanos Kasselakis is intolerant of the Left, SYRIZA MP Nikos Pappas commented: “This is not the case. Kasselakis has spoken about the patriotic Left and the democratic and governing Left repeatedly. I think this is not something that has a basis and nor do I want to think that Nikos Filis is using this very valuable word to continue a confrontation which was also reflected in the last election”.

Speaking on the First Program, Nikos Filis said: “We have disagreements between us, it’s obvious, they were also reflected in our previous conference. We learned to go along with them, even though there was a clear majority in favor of the transformation, and I think that’s how we should continue. No poison arrows needed either. There is nothing wrong with exchanging political views. Even derogatory characterizations, however, cannot help us move forward. Society does not expect such a thing, society has too many problems. He saw with interest the process of leadership change in SYRIZA Progressive Alliance and the last thing we have to do is to disappoint it”.

Asked about statements attributed to executives who support the new president that “whoever doesn’t want to, let him sit aside” Mr. Pappas emphasized: “Obviously, parties are associations of citizens who come together of their own free will and serve a political purpose. But statements that allude to the possibility of a split to leave find me strongly disagreeing and should not be made.”

“There is no need for us to shoot poison darts at the newly elected leadership, nor for the other side to respond, whoever wants to go home. We can preserve our unity and clear direction. I don’t understand the tension two twenty-four hours after such an important election. Who really needs it? We will serve our collective decisions decisively, unifyingly, composedly. Now is not the time to throw threats at each other. By God,” said the SYRIZA MP.

“The world is waiting for us to face Mitsotakis, not between us”

“It is unfair for our faction and for all the people who came and testified for the umpteenth time their faith and trust in the faction that war drums sound again. It’s not like that. This world expects us to confront Mitsotakis and not to take our swords out of their sheaths to confront each other,” said Mr. Pappas.

According to him, there are neither prospects of rupture nor prospects of disintegration. “We have a great fortune which holds us together. It is a strong adhesive, which proved to exist even after the departure of Alexis Tsipras. Because we were really worried. If we had very low attendance, it would be very difficult for me to claim on your show that there is no specter of departures or a split. I think whoever moves against the decision that the people of SYRIZA made emphatically a few twenty-four hours ago, should be tired to give explanations for their political stance” he added.

Regarding the new President of SYRIZA, he noted that he knows the difficulties, “which are many times more than those that appeared in the process, the electoral transition of the change of leadership in SYRIZA”.

Asked to comment that SYRIZA executives say that “some passer-by took the party out of their hands”, Mr. Pappas said: “In principle, I don’t like the expression ‘the party took them’ at all, because it refers to a state of ownership”. “Our members are the owners. Owners choose, command and shape and co-shape our direction as well. I think that as the new leadership must and does, respect the declaration and the identity and the direction we have taken, so everyone must respect the result of the ballot box. It was not a minor political event.”

Asked if Mr. Kasselakis will enter the Parliament, Mr. Pappas noted that “he has also clarified this issue”. “In the Parliament we have executive depth and accumulated experience and presence, which exceeded our expectations and anxieties during the period” he added.

Regarding the upcoming European elections and what the election result will signal, Mr. Pappas pointed out “even if we tried to downgrade it, it is the first political election in 2024. Citizens will go to the polls and they will have ballot papers in front of them. And the ballots they choose will send messages to all of us. (…) If we go to the European elections and New Democracy is ahead and its difference is large, if there is such a scenario, won’t Mitsotakis come out and say, here is the confirmation of my hegemony and politics? On the contrary, if there is a disruptive result, in any version, we will have a new political landscape.”