To the question “Against Mitsotakis rule, who?” which was also the title of the much-discussed event of the Journal of Editors for the center-left, the three speakers, Efi Ahtsioglou from New Left, Manolis Christodoulakis from PASOK-KINALL and Dionysis Teboneras from SYRIZA-PS tried to answer.

With the finding that there is “a vacuum of political representation of the social forces that are affected by the politics of the ND” Eu began her speech. Ahtsioglou, however, stressing that this void is not waiting for a “charismatic leader” to fill it.

“For us, social responsibility comes first, the class address from the vague references to a democratic faction that, in the absence of political conditions, must unite to face the Right”, underlined E. Ahtsioglou, adding that “in order for these social forces to be able to coalesce and express themselves politically in a structured way , and therefore with a reason that can become dominant, a series of political conditions are required that primarily concern the strategy, the program, the positions, the claims and secondarily the persons.

“This political space that will manage to unify the social forces, in my opinion, is neither in today’s PASOK nor in today’s SYRIZA,” she emphasized, clarifying, however, that there are “forces” within the parties that ” they can take the step.’

Besides, he added that “political time does not obey the logic of ripe fruit”, commenting that“especially at this moment any prolongation of stagnation leads to decay” and speaking of everyone’s “obligation” to assume their “responsibility”.

Concluding her speech, E. Ahtsioglou said that “there are promising examples of social alliances”, such as the agricultural or student movement, and advocated “collaborations” and not “mergers”, i.e. maintaining the “political autonomy” of the Left. .

M. Christodoulakis noted for his part that the representatives of the progressive world are “obliged” to “discuss”, recognizing that there are two risks, on the one hand to let the “extreme right” become the only opponent of the “right” and on the other hand to continue the “existing government policy” which has a “certain sign and priorities”.

“Today it is not just a need or an opportunity, but an obligation of the progressive space to present an alternative governance proposal to the ND”, he characteristically said, stressing at the same time that in order to do this, the “historical continuity” that only the “democratic faction” brings is necessary.

“We cannot give away either the center or the dignity of the middle class in the SW”, he continued, clarifying, however, that “this policy cannot be built on the logic of anti”. “We cannot say that you are against Mr. Mitsotakis, come with us. We do not add resentment, anger and frustration. We must say who we are and what our ideological basis is, as a modern European social democracy”, he noted, while referring to specific principles of social democracy, such as the “open” and not “free” economy, “political liberalism” and “the social state’. “We are not discussing party mergers and agreements in closed rooms,” he said, among other things, underlining that “we must seek convergences” at the level of the social base, movements, and programs. “Let’s have the courage to stand up to what we agree on, to put forward positions, history, ideas, principles, values ​​against the ND”, he noted, while emphasizing that this will be done “with PASOK and the democratic faction in a leading role”.

Dionysis Teboneras initially addressed the president of SYRIZA-PS, saying that with his presence at the event, “proves that a discussion concerning the progressive space cannot be held without SYRIZA-PS” and that “this debate is not only about persons but parties”. D. Teboneras referred to the “anxiety of the progressive base” and the need “for a realistic way out”, commenting that around the prime minister “a business and political power system is gathering which is built with the logic of an extreme reactionary neoliberal narrative”.

“Messianicism at the moment but also the intermarriage of the democratic world does not help in an exit strategy”, he noted, stressing that “the right question is not who but how in the face of this anti-popular political system there is a need to form a broad front of democracy”. As he mentioned, this will be formed with the participation of society and the parties that define themselves in the progressive space while maintaining their “political independence and physiognomy”.

Expressing his disagreement with his “comrades” who left SYRIZA, he emphasized that “we need addition and not subtraction”. “SYRIZA can undertake restructuring initiatives without a trace of small-party selfishness”, he continued while emphasizing that “the solution can come from a socially strong SYRIZA” and that St. Kasselakis “has the mandate as well as the responsibility to bring SYRIZA back into government orbit”. “The parties of the progressive space are obliged to proceed immediately in partnerships against the major social problems”, he said and concluded: “we will not wait for the left to enter the margins”.

Shortly after the start of the debate, the president of SYRIZA-PS, Stefanos Kasselakis, suddenly entered the room. The coordinator Dimitris Terzis welcomed him and invited him to address a greeting, which however St. did not accept. Kasselakis pointing to D. Teboneras as the “representative of SYRIZA”. He left before the end of the event, after greeting all three speakers.