Kyriakos Mitsotakis put Antonis Samaras out of New Democracy on the occasion of the sharp criticism that the former Prime Minister made of the government’s policy, especially on national issues, in an interview with Sunday’s BIMA, at the same time indirectly calling for the dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, for his earlier statement regarding the Greek-Turkish dialogue.

The deletion of Antonis Samaras had become apparent as a one-way street since the morning, however the official decision and announcement was delayed as the prime minister wanted to know the overall content of the interview, according to the SKAI report.

In particular, the information states that from early in the morning the Maximos Palace was aware of the key points of the interview and those who were close partners with the prime minister on issues of government policy, unanimously without any exception told him that “this situation cannot continue another and the direct questioning of the whole of the practiced government policy cannot be tolerated”.

After learning about the entire content of Antonis Samara’s interview, the Prime Minister called the government representative at around four in the afternoon and began drafting the harsh notice for the removal of the former Prime Minister.

In particular, government officials noted that the government has two and a half years ahead of it to implement its governmental work and provide answers to the citizens’ problems, and it was not possible to allow this introversion cultivated by these interventions of Mr. Samaras.

In addition, the information states that the Megaros Maximos received requests from many blue executives conveying the message “don’t put up with him anymore”.

Mr. Samaras’ entourage reported that he has the right to mention and highlight issues related to political life, while according to the same sources the former prime minister was waiting for the reaction from the Maximos Palace without ruling out the possibility of deletion, without however believes that was the likely scenario.

The chronicle of the erasure of Samara

Antonis Samaras was kicked out of New Democracy after his interview on “Vima tis Kyriaki” in which he severely criticized the handling of national issues, targeting both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis.

The divorce was decided as the Maximos House decided that Mr. Samaras crossed the line, directly questioning the entire government policy.

The removal of Mr. Samaras was announced by the government representative, Pavlos Marinakis, stating that “Mr. Samaras, with his interview today, places himself, for the second time after 1993, outside the New Democracy. After all, that’s what he was after. This time, however, history will not repeat itself. The Government majority continues steadily on its course, without Mr. Samaras. No one has the right to play with the stability of the country in these troubled times.”

In the announcement, the government representative spoke of Mr. Samaras’ insensitivity and provocative attack against the Prime Minister and Mr. Gerapetritis, stressing that the former Prime Minister, in addition to the disagreement he expressed on the entire government policy, also distorted statements.

Mr. Marinakis, who points out that this time it is not about “opinions” in the context of the special privilege that former prime ministers have to express opinions, emphasizes that “society has left behind, for years, the logic of “camarilla” politics and attitudes inspired by the party “ginati”.

Red lines breached for the ND were also Antonis Samaras’ sharp comments about the Prime Minister’s “charms” in response to a recent aversion from Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the statement saying “he even went so far as to claim that the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of the Republic of Cyprus was “having fun” with the President of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Albania”.

The process of deleting Mr. Samaras from the ND is already underway and is expected to be sealed with the official announcement in the Plenary Session of the Parliament on Monday.

The announcement of Pavlos Marinakis in detail:

We have said many times that former Prime Ministers have the special privilege of expressing their views and concerns on policy issues from time to time, Pavlos Marinakis said in the announcement.

Mr. Samaras, in his last interview, however, did not express any opinions. But he expressed his complete disagreement with the entire government policy. In addition, in a blatant and provocative manner, he adopted extreme falsehoods, distorting statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which have been clarified repeatedly and in detail.

He even went so far as to claim that the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of the Republic of Cyprus were “having fun” with the President of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Albania.

Finally, the untimely discussion he insisted on regarding the election of the President of the Republic constitutes an insult to the person and institution of the head of state.

All of the above cannot be tolerated or accepted. For years, society has left behind “camarilla” political logic and attitudes inspired by the party “ginati”. Those who envision a shrunken ND to the extent of 18%, should consider that, with the strategy of Kyriakos Mitsotakis , New Democracy has won three national elections to date with percentages of the order of 40%.

Therefore, with today’s interview, Mr. Samaras puts himself, for the second time after 1993, outside New Democracy. After all, that’s what he was after. This time, however, history will not repeat itself. The Government majority continues steadily on its course, without Mr. Samaras. No one has the right to play with the stability of the motherland in these turbulent times.

Tough answer Samara

Mr. Samaras’ reaction to the deletion was strong, accusing the prime minister of arrogance and lack of composure, while also accusing him of being “cut off from the base” and of “leading a party that looks a bit like New Democracy”.

“I spoke, I spoke and I will only speak about what concerns Greece”, the former prime minister emphasizes in his post, while referring to the reasons that led to his deletion, he notes “so tell us where I am wrong”.

In conclusion, he adds “for the country I sacrificed everything, even my health. But no one can force me to sacrifice my conscience. The judge of all of us will be the people and history”

The announcement in detail:

Arrogance and an obvious lack of composure explain Mitsotakis’ move. Cut off from the base, he leads a party that looks a bit like New Democracy.

I spoke, I spoke and I will speak only about the things that concern Greece.

So let us know where I am wrong. In Greek-Turkish, where just yesterday the responsible director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resigned? In the difficulty of the citizens to cope with the accuracy? In the woke agenda, which while he himself brought it to Greece, after Trump’s election he suddenly talks about the tyranny of the minority?

Maybe at Novartis?

Or maybe because I nominated Costas Karamanlis for President of the Republic?

I sacrificed everything for my country, even my health. But no one can force me to sacrifice my conscience.

The judge of all of us will be the people and history”

The Samara interview

Antonis Samaras in the controversial interview on “Vima tis Kyriaki” launched an attack against the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, criticizing him for the management of Greek-Turkish relations on the occasion of his earlier statements.

In particular, Mr. Samaras, who requested the resignation of Mr. Gerapetritis, said that “the permanent ‘appeasement’ of the Turkish challenges is not a centrist policy. In this case, e.g., those who declare that in the name of ‘friendship and tranquility’ with Turkey, ‘let them be labeled underdogs’ must be ‘sent home’ (the Prime Minister)! How did this come about? Why should someone who follows the fixed national line be described as a discounter? Such things are never said!”

The above comment of the former prime minister refers to a statement by Giorgos Gerapetritis, in October on SKAI 100.3, who had said: “If I am to leave a great legacy for my country for future generations, let it be a neighborhood which will is calm, a Greece of self-confidence, stability and pride, let me also be characterized as a discounter”.