About Trump’s victory in the American elections and the ramifications of his election, the Greek-Turkish, the Ukrainian and the role of NATO, as well as the criticism of Samaras and the statements of Georgiadis about PASOK, the deputy minister to the prime minister and government representative, Pavlos Marinakis, spoke in MEGA.

Asked to comment on the result of the US election, which had not yet been finalized, he said that “it was a borderline process in terms of the prediction that everyone made, so anything was possible for that and we had said that – regardless of the result – relations would not be affected of Greece with the USA, which is at its best possible point, is of strategic importance. Obviously, the prime minister and the government as a whole will cooperate with anyone…”.

Regarding whether our country is ready “to face Turkey in new situations”, Mr. Marinakis noted that “during these years, from 2019 and 2020 when the last American elections were held, Greece is another country. It is a much stronger country that has succeeded and has taken many more steps than other neighboring countries because the policy of defense armor is not defined differently. That is, those that Greece has secured for the F35 and of course for the Rafale and the Belharra but also all the agreements it has concluded and its “size” as a country is now completely different, much bigger than what it was in 2020 , in 2019 and earlier. And it is a country, now, that counts both on the European and the world map. Let me remind you that the last time Donald Trump was elected President, in 2016, Greece was the “black sheep” of Europe. Essentially, everyone in Europe was gathering to discuss the problem of Greece. In 2024, Greece is the leading country in a series of very big problems that Europe is called upon to solve. And to put it bluntly, regardless of the outcome in the USA, the time has come – perhaps the time is too short – for him to mature politically, to take brave decisions, as Mr. Draghi’s report said, and as towards its competitiveness, which lags behind in a number of issues that it must make quick decisions”.

Commenting on the fact that “Erdogan and Biden had lowered their voices” and what will happen “if Turkey changes its attitude”, the government representative emphasized that “both the prime minister and the foreign minister have said this many times, that the Greece does not define – so in fact it does not heterodetermine – its relations with other countries on the basis of a third country. Regarding Turkey, we have chosen the path of dialogue, which is not a path of any retreat. Through this path of dialogue we have managed and achieved some important things. Along the path of dialogue, we have achieved a series of great successes of our country, the ones I described before so as not to repeat them, both at the defense and diplomatic level. Things are not that simple, nor can an election result mean significant changes just because there may have been some relationships in the past. Greece has deep-rooted relations with the USA, personally the Prime Minister has channels of communication with both parties. This calls for a consistent and effective diplomatic foreign policy. He has provided credentials. And let’s remember that Kyriakos Mitsotakis was applauded by both parts of the Congress because he succeeded in very difficult years – and the pandemic and many other parallel crises – to strengthen Greece and the positions of our country, essentially, to be identified with the positions of West. One of them, which the dialogue highlights, is this. When, for example, we heard from Mr. Erdogan some things that we could not even imagine about the actions of Hamas, the Greek prime minister came and answered.”

Asked to comment on the visit of Pompeo, the former Secretary of State under Trump, and his meeting with Mr. Mitsotakis, he said that it was an informal meeting but “every meeting, especially at this level, even informal, has its symbolism. So, when one of the closest associates of one of the candidates comes and meets the prime minister of a country, a few days before the elections, it is not something that can be underestimated. And it’s something that confirms what I was telling you a few seconds ago, that there are channels and very strong channels of communication to maintain and further cultivate this relationship between our country and our strategic ally, which is the United States America”.

Regarding the crisis in Ukraine, Mr. Marinakis pointed out that “our support for Ukraine is not just a political strategy decision. It is a decision of democracy and support of the elementary rules of the rule of law and protection of the defender. Supporting him, who is under attack, is not, I think, negotiable. From there, let’s wait to see the official results and the programmatic positions and the first statements of the new president, because the result of President of the United States is still formally open, so that some positions can also be made.”

Regarding the prospect of NATO’s potential degradation, he replied that “the United States of America, I think over the centuries, has proven itself to be a very strong federal state, which does not change its foreign policy so easily from one day to the next. Certainly the faces play a very big role, but there is also a timelessness in some decisions, we have many open issues in the whole world and I think situations which are unprecedented and all these discussions we are having, because at the moment I cannot tell you something which is hypothetical, demonstrate the criticality of situations and the difficulty of some decisions. And to bless our beards a little, despite the many problems that citizens still face, how important it is, in this global situation and in what is happening in Europe, with the taxes that go into all countries, with the situation that exists economically, that Greece after many problems and very difficult years, is starting to raise its head both in terms of growth and in terms of debt reduction and in terms of having a record reduction in unemployment. In this environment we have achieved significant success in reducing many of the world’s inequalities and difficulties.”

In comments by journalists as to whether the prospect of Trump’s election alone had caused panic in Europe, the government representative underlined: “Europe is simply preparing for all scenarios and is even starting an informal European Council in Budapest, very important, in the wake of its result electoral… We were talking before about what will happen in scenario a or b, for example for the F-16s, the F-35s, which Greece has achieved and has passed two runways, if you allow me to express it, there are conditions, when -for example- you are a member of NATO, all this should not be used against an allied state, which is Greece. These are all things that don’t change overnight, and they’re not going to change, and they’re not going to be affected by this election.”

For the placements K. Karamanlis and Ant. Regarding the expression of concern about Turkish aggression, Mr. Marinakis said that “coming out and saying that the national line is this, our difference with Turkey is one, the determination of the EEZ and the continental shelf and no other, and to you ask the government to repeat it, although we have said it dozens, hundreds of times, it is our obligation to keep saying it and I repeat it here today for one more time”.

However, he added that neither he nor any other government official has ever criminalized a former prime minister’s opinion. “What are we doing? No matter what the criticism is, whether it is severe or milder or from a journalist, from a political party, we repeat the national line and remind you where Greece was, I did it to you at the beginning, talking about America. The job is ours, addressing the citizens, the government, which has been in place for several years now, it has been six years of government, I have been in this role for about a year and a half, we must remember where we started and where we have been”, he noted.

He also pointed out that “New Democracy is united, New Democracy is a government in its second four-year term at the moment, which has the support of the Parliamentary Group in very difficult years, in times as I described to you and in these matters, which are a very important agenda over time for our faction, we succeeded and passed very large goals, such as for example immigration, Greece was a country that had almost 100,000, 93,000 residents, 130 structures, it had a big crisis in the Evros, which the prevented… As long as we move forward, with whatever disagreements there are, which have always existed within a democratic party, we emphasize that Greece has grown taller, that Greece is not going to put on the table issues of red lines, issues of sovereignty, so we can let’s go forward together. There was never a question of divisive logic on the part of the government.”

Referring to a statement by the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, “for co-government with PASOK”, the government representative underlined that “Mr. Georgiadis used a figure of speech to show that PASOK, despite the re-election of Mr. Androulakis, for PASOK it’s like nothing has changed. And I also listed a few days ago a series of serious issues for the world, for the citizens, for society, to which PASOK said “no” to the citizens and not to the government”. He also made it clear that “there is no question of co-government. Neither PASOK has raised it, nor has New Democracy raised it.” “Mr. Georgiadis basically said that “if you want us to agree on some things, we must find a common recommendation”. There is a very nice book – the days I was able to read it during the summer, “Paradox Country”, by Mr. Pappa. He describes how Greece, in relation to Ireland and Portugal, missed many opportunities, while starting from the same starting point. One of the main reasons is that in post-political Greece we took it to other levels, “ended it”, if you will allow me the expression, in terms of polarization and toxicity. With the responsibility of all political forces, but, I think, much less of the New Democracy,” he said.

“However, I consider that the New Democracy, for the most part, has always been on the right side of history, with its many mistakes. What we need to do, obviously, is not for the opposition to say “yes” to the government. But when, for example, the opposition rightly shouts why the appointments are delayed – although we have done most of them in recent years – when you come and say that the insularity and mountainous areas of some areas should be given a premium and that the people go to the position much faster which ASEP stipulates that you will not be able to move for ten years and the other votes against and comes a week later and denounces the appointments to ASEP. Or when a center-left, well-known, prestigious person cannot be elected Ombudsman, allegedly for the Pylos wreck, which will obviously continue to be investigated…”, Mr. Marinakis emphasized and concluded: “It is not good for a democratic party, a party with a democratic tradition, such as PASOK, to feed back this speculation against the Greek porters”.