The president of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, mentioned the stakes of the European elections, while criticizing both Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Kasselakis, he commented on the absence of European issues in the public debate.

In particular, Mr. Androulakis, speaking Mega, stated that “the New Democracy has already shown that it is afraid of the elections. When he focuses on the European elections of 2019 and not the electoral contest of 2023, he does so because he knows that the percentages of his party will be much lower. Even with this bar set by the New Democracy, we will be far above the European and national elections and we aspire to have a force that will oppose the indecency, arrogance and removal of the Prime Minister and his government from the big problems of society”.

He underlined that the vote in the European elections reflects European associations and commented on the absence of European issues from the public speech of Mr. Mitsotakis and Kasselakis.

“Does it suit Mr. Mitsotakis to say that by voting for him he is strengthening Von der Leyen who did nothing and had an absolutely failed term? Is it good for Mr. Kasselakis to say that they should vote for him to support the GUE (meaning European left) with the forty MEPs with obsessions against the European Union and the common defense and security tools that our country needs so much against Turkey? They don’t like this discussion, that’s why they don’t do it,” stressed Mr. Androulakis.

Asked about Mr. Kasselakis’ idiosyncratic financial statement, Mr. Androulakis said: “Mr. Kasselakis has a talent. It shows its obligations as concessions. He goes to the army, puts on a fifteen-day show as if it were a concession. It was his duty to go. For what reason he set up another show yesterday in Thessaloniki with an excel, again as if it is a concession and he gave us a gift to announce something that he should have announced months ago”.

“The show about these issues finally helps one: Mr. Mitsotakis. Why, five days before the ballot box, we don’t discuss the huge issues of society, the housing crisis, energy costs, accuracy. I am trying to let the Greek people see that I am and we are useful. That’s why my time is oriented towards utility rather than communication. I believe that when the citizen understands that I am and we are the most useful, I too will become Prime Minister and the Democratic Party will govern again,” he added.

The President of PASOK-Movement for Change, referring to the current economic policy, emphasized: “Mr. Mitsotakis will not do well with the economy. Here we will be after a year to discuss it. The fact that today he makes billions from the VAT and the Excise Tax, i.e. profiting from the accuracy and the pocket of the citizens, is what keeps him financially afloat. Nor will the flexibilities that existed and plagued him for a long period exist and the resources of the Recovery Fund are slowly leaving while it has not been properly utilized. We will find all this before us. However, I want the citizen to feel that in the face of this indecency, which has to do with health, education, the rule of law, the economy, he will have the Democratic Party, which in all of this will have specific proposals that will improve his life”.

Mr. Androulakis, noting the role of MEPs in the crucial decisions of the European Parliament, brought his personal example.

“The fact that every summer hundreds of firefighters come to Greece for free, free aerial firefighting vehicles, free ground vehicles and we will get two Canadairs at a 30% reduced cost than what our country will get, is with my signature. At least with my own strength I managed with RescEU Greece to save millions of euros every year. The signature is mine, not Mr. Mitsotakis’s. It is my signature in the trilogue as rapporteur of the European Parliament of all parties. And this also shows their arrogance, they never said a single thank you. That it was thanks to my own work in the European Parliament both in the first year and in the second term assuring a budget of 3.1 billion” he stressed.