Confrontation between Pavlos Christidis (PASOK-KINAL) and the president of NIKI Dimitris Natsios regarding the withdrawal of work of the Greek flag with red stripes from the exhibition of abstract art which was hosted at Consulate General of New Yorkduring the discussion of the “fundraising” bill in the Plenary.

PASOK-KINAL Member of Parliament Pavlos Christidis stated that the withdrawal of the work “troubles us”, as he said, “Georgia Lame’s work “The Guilt of the Neighbourhood” consists of sheets of women who have one characteristic, they are women who have laid down scared, surprised, desperate by the violence they received in their home from men in recent years. It is a flag red with the blood of Greek women who were abused and murdered.” Mr. Christidis said that “we are deeply impressed by the obscurantist perception and practice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs who requested the withdrawal of the project as it is outside of our culture”. The PASOK-KINAL MP said that the minister requested the withdrawal of the work from the exhibition “because some people protested” and argued that “it is deeply hypocritical for this to be done in an exhibition that is entitled “White Check” and gives the opportunity to young artists to express their anxieties, as a Consulate should do, the Greek community abroad”. Mr. Christidis said that “our flag is a symbol that millions of people gave their lives for, but symbols acquire meaning from people and we want them alive. What we should therefore be most interested in are femicides and not artistic initiatives at home or abroad.” The MP criticized the government that with this action of withdrawing the project from the report it provides the possibility to impose “the atomized perceptions of Mr. Natsios and some other extreme right-wingers, because you listened to them. You are too fearful and too conservative.”

The president of Niki, Dimitris Natsios, accused the PASOK-KINAL MP of being “young in age and has not matured, not been baked and nurtured by the threads of the homeland” as well as “obviously he is an ahistorical”. He claimed that this work was posted “in the Consulate General and not in some gallery or cafe or cafeteria”. He mentioned that the Criminal Code punishes the defacement of the Greek flag. We, he said, “didn’t ask for anyone to be punished – don’t confuse things – but to withdraw because we consider it an insult to our national symbol.” Mr. Natsios commented that “the tactic of exterminating us through graphicness does not bother us” and added that “in our country, anyone who defends the Holy and Sanctuaries is an atomizer, an obscurantist. We are people of patriotism, loyalty and integrity of character.”

PASOK-KINAL Member of Parliament Pavlos Christidis, for his part, wondered that “I don’t know if Mr. Natsios has a problem with young people and considers that he alone is the only mature one in this Parliament. I did not speak about you personally, but about your views, that you consider the collection of personal details of women who have suffered violence offensive to you, I consider this extreme patriotism and you have nothing to do with what the nation and the country are. You have invested and are investing in perceptions that are dangerous to our country and that should be reconsidered” and the MP concluded by saying that “people who believe that gnomes come out at Christmas, let me say that they are much more dangerous to our democracy and the social cohesion”.

ND MP Dimitris Kyriazidis commented on the PASOK-KINAL MP’s reports against the Foreign Minister saying that “we adopt the position of Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis” as this, as analyzed, “is a responsible and serious position”.