“I call on the Greek people, here from Kavala, not to choose with a compass the fear of the worst, because then surely even worse will come. Vote with hope, with the contempt this government has shown for your real problems. Punish arrogance and indecency”, emphasized at noon in Kavala, the president of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, referring to the stakes of the European elections.

Mr. Androulakis explained why voting in the European elections is crucial, “the first reason is that in our country there is now a paradox. We have a very strong ruling party. The opposition has much lower percentages. The first party has a difference of 121 seats from the second, with the result that arrogance, corruption, impunity are escalating and the government’s answer to everything is “41% voted for us”. The second issue is that after the European elections there must be a strong, reliable opposition, which will also be the next government that will be able to successfully face the New Democracy. And the third, equally very important, reason is the correlation in Europe. I want every Greek woman, every Greek man, to remember today what are the forces at the European level that imposed harsh economic austerity on Greece during the years of the economic crisis. It was the European People’s Party, the European right, the European conservation. For this reason, Mr. Mitsotakis does not want a debate, because he does not want to be identified with those who, with their choices, created huge issues of inequality and are none other than the European People’s Party”

He added: “Strong social democracy means a European Economic Sovereignty Fund that will invest in southern countries to return some of the productive base that has gone to third parties, such as China. A strong social democracy means a strong European social model, of public health, public education, with a permanent Recovery Fund”.

He aimed his arrows at SYRIZA saying that “the vote for Tik Tok’s opposition is a divine gift to Mr. Mitsotakis. Voting for the PASOK opposition is the real message against its arrogance. This will hurt the Maximus Palace. To have a strong, reliable opposition on Sunday night and not the opposition of Tik Tok”.

Regarding the matter of accuracy, Mr. Androulakis emphasized that PASOK does not popularize, like “the neo-populist Mr. Kasselakis, the zero VAT on basic goods. Because Spain may have zeroed him out, but the Iberian country had food at the rate of 4%. From 4% to 0 is four units. In Greece the coefficient is much higher. So what do we recommend? To decrease and not to zero. How much to reduce? As long as the economy picks up. How much does the economy raise? 1.6 billion won from overtaxation, from the excess revenue of the VAT return compared to last year. “Well, how is the budget affected, Mr. Mitsotakis?”

“But because of ideology, he doesn’t want the reduced VAT. However, due to entanglement, he does not want controls on the market with large fines and reinforcement of DIMEA and the Competition Commission. What’s wrong with the Single Consumer Authority? Really, they have no, no, serious answer,” he added.

He repeated the PASOK-Movement for Change proposal for a new EKAS for 350,000 low pensioners: “Things are very simple. Either you hold the low pensioners hostage with the passes or you make institutional interventions. We proposed a new EKAS in place of the one abolished by SYRIZA for the 350,000 low pensioners. We have priced it at 600 million euros, so that 350,000 of our fellow human beings with the lowest pensions can live with dignity.”

Referring to the tragedy of Tempi, Mr. Androulakis underlined: “Yesterday in an interview, Mr. Mitsotakis said “bring me evidence” so we can do a preliminary investigation. But we brought data in September. The conclusion of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office that speaks of infidelity – that is, corruption – and breach of duty by Mr. Karamanlis regarding the remote control contract. New Democracy voted against it. Did they not vote then and will they vote next? Who is he kidding?’

“When did this happen again in our country? Fifty years ago they were happening. That the secret services do not respect the decisions of the highest courts of the country. But they are not alone. The political head of the EYP is still today Mr. Mitsotakis. So I am asking, here from Kavala, to give me a clear answer: Why does the service which he leads as political head write on his old shoes the decision of the supreme court of the country? Do we respect human rights? Do we have the rule of law? Do we have separation of powers? Or does he want to make Greece Hungary? Because if he wants, he will find us all opposite, all of us, each and every one of us” concluded the president of PASOK-KINAL.