Heaps of reactions, both at the political level and from social media users, have caused earlier statements by Dimitris Papanotas about battered women and gender-based violence, which have been made public again.

More specifically, the SYRIZA MEP candidate had stated on the Fay’s time show in March, on the occasion of a confrontation he had with Noni Dounia (an MEP candidate with the ND): “I don’t understand what problem Mrs. Dounia has who feels that she is a downtrodden. But I don’t see a woman having a problem in Greece and in general in the EU, unless she wants to have one. That is, if she gets a satrap, who abuses her, and she does not speak and sits and tolerates it, it is her problem.”

The statements were characterized as sexist and caused reactions even within SYRIZA, with many calling for his deletion.

Reactions from Southern Left – PASOK

Efi Ahtsioglou from the New Left, stated that “these views reproduce the patriarchal stereotypes that are deeply rooted in Greek society. Views that are full of sexism, ignorance of social reality, misogyny”.

At the same time, PASOK-KINAL comments that “it gives the impression that Sofia Bekatorou, who pioneered the Me too movement, and Dimitris Papanotas, who shares the opinion “if a woman gets a satrap, can co-exist on the same ballot. who abuses her and sits and tolerates it, her problem”.

The answer of D. Papanotas

With his post on social media, the SYRIZA MEP candidate spoke of “cutting and tailoring”, in order to create a problem for both himself and SYRIZA.

In detail, he wrote: “In the last few hours, some people deliberately isolated part of an old statement of mine, wanting to create a problem for both me and SYRIZA PS. My respect for women is known and unquestionable. Throughout time I stand by those who have fallen victim to abusive behavior without asterisks and fully support their struggle. This is what I have been doing all these years as a journalist, this is what I will continue to do in the future. I apologize if through the “cutting edge” of the statement I was given the impression that the victims of abuse also have a share of responsibility for what has happened to them. And I promise that I will fight on the side of abused women until the day when such phenomena will have disappeared for good.”