Appeal to his parties progressive spacefor a common descent through its single political entity Center left in the next parliamentary elections, the university officials address Xenophon Kontiadis, Antonis Liakos, Nikos Marantzidis and George Sotirelis.

Their text-intervention in detail:

“The result of the European elections, in connection with the unprecedented abstention, is very significant for our party system, as it clearly highlights the continuous decline of its political credibility and the manifold crisis of representation.

The government undoubtedly received the heaviest blow. However, the two largest opposition parties were not unscathed either. The percentages they obtained, in relation to the abstention rate, raise serious concerns about their ability to provide, on their own, a strong and convincing alternative.

In reality, therefore, the European elections represent a major challenge for all parties, movements and disaffected members of the progressive space, in order to undertake suitable initiatives for its radical restructuring.

Only in this way can this space constitute a new strong and pluralistic pole of power, which will be able to overturn the current regime of servitude, clientelism, entanglement, the undermining of public goods, the waste of European resources for the benefit of the mothers, the shrinking pluralism, the degradation of the rule of law and the multiple and notorious scandals, culminating in those of wiretapping and the Tempes.

Therefore, because the times are not good, we decided to appeal to all the parties and forces that can and must form this new progressive pole, to overcome introversion and disappointment and to realize the necessity of a common descent in the next parliamentary elections, co-deciding – beyond any of their internal processes, which is their own business – a specific schedule, which will include two stages:

Firstly, the elaboration of alternative positions and proposals, in a progressive ideological and political direction, which will form a single, responsible and reliable programmatic basis.

Secondly, the selection, in due time, of a common candidate for the prime ministership, who will garner the widest possible acceptance. We know the problems posed by the electoral law, but we also know the solutions to overcome them.

The signatories belong to the wider progressive space, with various ideological and political origins and nuances, we have been exchanging opinions and concerns about the course of the country for years and our motivation is one and only: to contribute as much as possible, listening to the relevant concerns of the citizens , in the return of politics, in the radical change of the current negative correlations and in the restoration of balance in the functioning of the state.

We know that we are not cutting corners in Athens, as the need for the formation of a convincing and synthetic alternative solution has already been highlighted from many sides. We are also under no illusions and do not participate in the processes of individual parties.

However, we are deeply convinced that what is urgent today, beyond general discussions and wishes, is for everyone to commit – in view of the ongoing internal party ferments – to concrete and time-based initiatives, with a clear goal: a common program and a common prime minister candidate.

Only this can give hope and a way out to the progressive citizens and the wider popular strata, but also to finally initiate, with courage but also pragmatism, the ground-breaking intersections and ruptures that are necessary to overcome today’s depressing reality.

XENOFON KONTIADIS, PROFESSOR OF PANTEO UNIVERSITY
ANTONIS LIAKOS, OM. PROFESSOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
NIKOS MARANTZIDIS, PROFESSOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA
GIORGOS SOTIRELIS, PROFESSOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS”