The need to change the political map of Europe was highlighted by the president of the New Left Parliamentary Group during the presentation of the party’s MEP candidates.

He then added: “Let this be the signal for the change of associations in our country as well. Let the Right be defeated. To defeat the compromised, convenient for the government, opposition. To pave the way for the reconstruction and reconstitution of the left and broader progressive space. May the Left emerge strengthened and strong!“.

Presenting the European ballot he said:A ballot with people – women and men – who come from every part of the country and the diaspora Hellenism. A ballot that is part of a long tradition, renewing and radical, with people – reference points, who honored the Left and left and are leaving a strong imprint on the Greek and the European Parliament. This is the Left of our time! This is our Left! This is the New Left! Today, here, we respond to the discredit and trivialization of politics“.

He criticized the political forces: “The citizens of our country look at the central political scene with distaste; with disappointment; with indignation; perhaps with some timid interest; perhaps with some hope, but it will be very difficult for them to let it manifest itself and turn into trust. Because they see the anti-social policies of New Democracy. Policies that offend citizens, intensify inequalities, undermine the prospects of young people. They also see the options of the opposition SYRIZA and PASOK. An opposition that is unable to express social dynamics. An opposition convenient for the Mitsotakis government. They mainly see the absence of meaningful political discussion on the major issues that concern them. They see the ballots of all sorts of celebrities, the transfers on football terms, the dangerous games of patriotism“.

He then proclaimed: “But we say it clearly: We are not all the same. And we will not allow ourselves to become the same. Politics is coming back because we claim and we can live better. We say it and we will say it again: You will not be confused with the Left! Because the Left is the only answer to the policies of the Right. Because the Left is the story of the best moments of the past. Because the Left is the future!“.

Mr. Charitsis criticized the European Union: “The European Union is a political and economic union in crisis. Now in an existential crisis, because this is what the dominant political forces within it have chosen. The European Right has turned the European Union into an organization locked in dead ends. If Europe does not change course drastically, it will soon be identified with disaster: war, poverty, ecological and food crisis“.

He then described the goals of the New Left: “We are fighting for Peace. For a Europe that will undertake diplomatic initiatives to resolve regional conflicts. For a Europe pole of stability and peace. For a Europe of resistance to war planning”.

He referred to the “causes of the crisis”: “The dominance of neoliberal policies has led the European Union to failure. The economic policy of the European Union does not change the facts, it does not address the inequalities neither within the member states, nor between the member states. We are fighting for a Europe of inclusive development. Where the economy will serve society and not the other way around. With a new Solidarity and Development Pact, which will set social and environmental goals and utilize alternative GDP and debt indicators, more suitable for measuring substantial sustainability and prosperity. By mutualizing the government debt with common European borrowing. By strengthening the social pillar of European legislation, by establishing Directives and Regulations for the upward harmonization of wages and the establishment of a minimum common level of protection of labor rights. By creating and strengthening financial tools to support the productive base and the social state – the Recovery and Resilience Fund should not be the exception to the austerity rule, but acquire permanent features!“.

He made special reference to the “just green transition”: “However, the green transition is necessary and irreversible. The real question is different. The real question is: Green transition in terms of social justice or Green transition as another field of speculation? The only answer is the Left’s proposal: a just green transition so that the costs of the transition are paid by those who have so far been getting rich from the destruction of the environment“.

Reiterating the attack on the government he said: “It is no coincidence that New Democracy, although it wants to be characterized as a pro-European force, is the government that has irreparably exposed the country, making it the subject of investigation and condemnation for violating the Rule of Law: For wiretapping, freedom of the press , the pushbacks, the opaque management of the Recovery and Resilience Fund resources and Tempe Crime. This is the Europe of the New Democracy: the opacity, the cover-up, the xenophobia, the growth of the few that guarantees the next financial crisis for the many“.

In closing he underlined: “A clear message of disapproval of the ND government must be sent to the European Elections ballot box. In the European elections, the big bet is to get a progressive majority. With a clear social and ecological footprint for the challenges facing the European Union. A dynamic and militant left is needed more than ever in order to stop the erosion of the institutional acquis“.