“It’s very sad both personally and politically. It is not a pleasant day for the ND, no one is happy about this development”, the Minister of National Economy and Finance told SKAI and on the show “Kalimera” with Fai Mavragani Kostis Hatzidakison the occasion of the removal of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras from the ND parliamentary group.

“There was an escalation, and I was among those who had spoken to both sides. The thing went “wrong” more and more. “From one point on, I’m afraid that Mr. Samaras was actually going for it in a way, he wasn’t comfortable,” he added.

He also emphasized that “there was a criticism from the European elections onwards, which was a total criticism. When the government’s policy is questioned to such a large extent and with such great intensity, a question arises for the Prime Minister himself. Even if he didn’t react yesterday, how would we proceed from here on? The parties, which govern, cannot have opinions that differ so much from each other. There needs to be a minimum consistency. There was no way forward from here, the doubt was great».

As Mr. Hatzidakis explained, “the conflict took place over a Greek-Turkish policy, which, even if it exists in someone’s mind, has not progressed. It will be a world first for the ND to be wrecked for this reason. If the ND with the suspicion that something can be done with Turkey, while there is a commitment from the prime minister, it has characteristics of global originality”.

“Having a twice-strong mandate from the Greek people, the fragmentation of power and discord is damaging. We’re not going anywhere and I don’t think we’re serving our faction that way. It would be a great shame if all this progress were lost, all these sacrifices of the Greek citizens and we enter a phase of uncertainty, instability and ultimately regression. I am sure that the parliamentary group of the ND will move forward, coordinated and because we all see the interest of the faction and because we all see the interest and perspective of the homeland”, he added.

“ND, as the Prime Minister has also stated, remains clearly on the line of Constantinos Karamanlis in relation to Turkey. We have said that the difference we recognize is the difference related to continental shelf and sea zones. The founder of the faction had said that there are three methods to resolve this dispute. The first is dialogue, the second is war and the third is arbitration. We have not strayed from this line,” underlined Mr. Hatzidakis, emphasizing: “I don’t see any problem in what Mr. Gerapetritis said. And what foreign secretary could commit such a treasonous act?’