The independent MP commented on the formation of the new KO of “11”, its goals, its differences from SYRIZA and the new leadership Kasselakis Dimitris Papadimoulis speaking on Monday morning on the show “Today” on SKAI.

“I am one of the co-founders of the coalition and SYRIZA afterwards. The decision was painful, difficult, but I considered it imperative” characteristically said Dimitris Papadimoulis speaking about his decision to leave SYRIZA.

“Seeing with pain in the soul the current SYRIZA with this leadership moving away rapidly in matters of political choices, style and morals, I made a choice of conscience, responsibility but also a choice of hope because I believe that this new effort with the 40-year-olds ahead, with Haritsis ahead, there is a hope that the whole of this Left will not sink into the disrepute to which SYRIZA is led under the leadership of Kasselakis” added Mr. Papadimoulis who clarified that he will not be a candidate in the European elections.

“I am used to participating in a Left of responsibility and offering that when a new person comes they say “I came tell me how I can offer”. I’m not used to the new man who says “I came here to become president” he emphasized when speaking about the new president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis.

Regarding the attitude of Alexis Tsipras on the developments surrounding SYRIZA, Mr. Papadimoulis commented: “It is expected and respected that Tsipras remains in the party of which he was the leader for 15 years. Which raised it from 15 to 35. But those who say that Tsipras is happy with the Kasselakis leadership and supports him, are wrong.”

“It was expected that Alexis Tsipras would participate in the KO and be applauded, but if you see the pictures, the laughter and applause were with the entrance of Tsipras. Then when the new president of the party was speaking I saw a frowning Tsipras” emphasized Mr. Papadimoulis, underlining that “the result shows that Tsipras intervened very slowly and ineffectively”.

“Stefanos Kasselakis was elected with the slogan ‘I will defeat Mitsotakis’ and risks losing not only to Androulakis but also to Koutsoubas” said Mr. Papadimoulis

Regarding the new body of “11” and its differences from SYRIZA, he said: “The new KO and the new body will broadcast the stigma of a dynamic, militant opposition to the ND government, not only with strong criticism but also with a proposal. A modern Left, spacious without toxicity, with greater credibility, seriousness and persuasiveness in its words and actions that better preserves the traditions of SYRIZA that we have come to know”. But he pointed out that “they have to change, many of its negative aspects must also change”.

“We will proceed in solid steps, without haste, quickly yes, hastily no, the main priority of the new party will be the opposition to a government that we assess as bad. We have an uncontrollable, all-powerful government and a vacuum in the opposition,” he emphasized and added that “the potential of this new institution is not only the election of MEPs, but of MEPs. The ambition is for the new body to be the dominant force in the next parliamentary elections.”

Finally, he estimated that the percentage that the new body will receive in the first regular poll will be over 3% and the popularity of Alexis Haritsis will be very high.