‘States are turned into private companies of presidents, prime ministers or oligarchs that control them. We see European leaders behaving as the king’s laughter. “Myrsini Zorba: Democracy and Culture: 50 years of route” And he called “to respond to the barbarism of the few with the culture of many”.

Referring to Myrsine Zorba said that “our guide must be the idea of ​​Myrsini Zorba thatI Democracy must exist in our daily culture“

“Organizing this event of memory and resistance, against a dominant rhetoric of cynicism and anti -political -resistance represented by Myrsini Zorba. A rhetoric that looks powerful in these difficult times. And the first thought I would like to share with you is how much I was present in her absence is Myrsini Zorba here, but also in our daily lives, in our daily thoughts and concerns, in our struggles, ”he noted.

Alexis Tsipras added that “Myrsini was committed to the excluded. To many who lack access not only at a decent level of living, but also to knowledge, to the wealth of culture, to the freedom of ideas. In a life that is not just survival, but it responds to the potential of humanity today. Myrsini dedicated her creativity to the book. As a translator, curator, writer, publisher. He put the protection of children above all. She dedicated her life to the study of culture. In Cultural Democracy, without which democracy remains incomplete, unstable and based on weak foundations. This was our Myrsini. Of Greece, Italy, the world. “

Alexis Tsipras then quoted an excerpt from her latest book, “Notes from the time of expectations. It was not the political, but the cultural burden of the left in those years that had a huge impact on our lives. It worked as a counterweight to fear and shame, as a support for our confidence and optimism. Very often, this feeling was incarnated in ordinary people.

A left girl, who had just returned from exile, targeted but independent, who treated men as equals, who did not like the compliments, who did not tolerate the shallow spirit, who would not marry, because she did not want it, became my idol. “

He clarified that he quotes this passage not “to remind you of the cultural burden of the Left in the difficult years after the civil war in Greece, but because I believe it reflects the way of thinking and energy that passes through the whole life of Myrsini Zorba”.

He added that “Culture, based on the daily lives of ordinary people, as human relationships that stand in hereditary stereotypes, as the way society, social classes, all of us, see and recognize ourselves. But this cultural creation, with all its color and pluralism, as well as social integration, are not born, like Athena, from the head of Zeus.

Myrsini writes: Culture is the first and foremost issue of public interest, rights, freedom, equality and democracy – and all these things are not self -evident. The defense of the public interest is not self -evident. There must be a plan, with some basic goals, but also the appropriate method, so as not to fail, as we have seen in the past. “

As she said, this belief is shaped throughout her life and becomes the guide for every aspect of her public offer. As she tries to implement her cultural vision, with dedication, planning, policies, methods and commitment. For a better, freer and more creative life for many. For a cultural democracy that gives oxygen and depth to politics and democracy. Because democracy must exist in our daily culture. “

“Inside me,” Mursini writes, “the need for more democracy has proved to be the same as the need for more cultural democracy.” And this reference to what was “inside”, which characterized it and made it special for all of us, was shaped by its characteristic thirst for knowledge. Through questioning, constant searching and studying, “Alexis Tsipras stressed, adding:” But through the difficult, consistent act of living a life dedicated to justice, freedom and the rights of many. Thus, the little girl who was frozen on the muddy puddles of Petralona, ​​living in poverty, while seeing her left father working hard and feeling the tired tenderness of her mother to mark her first steps, was able to live a full life.

»He refused to forget, like others, where he started. And in every turn of her life, she said a loud yes to participation in progressive politics, often at cost and serious risks. He joined the Democratic Youth of Lambrakis and the anti -dictatorial resistance movement. After the return of the Republic, he joined the KKE. And after the end of the Cold War, he consistently supported every effort for progressive reforms. He became PASOK MEP. He founded Odysseus Publications. The historic National Book Center with the support of then Minister of Culture Thanos Mikroutsikos. And the child’s rights network. She was also mobilized to her beloved Italy, always in an open line of communication and dialogue with progressive intellectuals and currents of her time, keeping distances from dogmatism and ideological obsessions.
Following the signing of the Prespa Agreement with Northern Macedonia, it joined our Progressive Alliance and then became Minister of Culture in the SYRIZA government. There she tried to convey her cultural and democratic vision to a new culture policy for Greece to ensure that everyone who was excluded from cultural activity would become part of it. And he achieved a lot, despite the resistance of mechanisms that preferred inactivity, and despite the reaction of those who considered – and still consider – themselves the owners of the country and guardians of Greek culture. Preferably of the ancient. “

Myrsini Zorba has always emphasized how important cultural democracy is to democracy and social justice. Her experience, her open -minded attitude, her great interest in Gramsci, not only convinced her that the soul of democracy is the democratic culture of society, but they also prompted her to make her life purpose what we could call “the culture of many”.

For her, the goal of solidarity -based cultural democracy was inextricably linked to the objective of economic democracy.

“The economic reform program is precisely the specific way in which every spiritual and moral reform appears,” writes Gramsci of prison. And the iconic Uruguayan President Pepe Muchika, who recently died, in one of his latest interviews, concludes the same conclusions as those in which Myrsini had reached before him.
He said, “My generation made a naive mistake. We thought that social change concerned only questioning the methods of production and distribution in society. We did not understand the deep role of culture. Capitalism is a culture, and we must respond to capitalism and resist it with a different culture. In other words: We are in a struggle between a culture of solidarity and a culture of selfishness.

»I do not think of culture for sale, such as professional music or dance. These are important, of course, but when I talk about culture I am referring to human relationships, to all the ideas that govern our relationships, without even realizing it. It is the sum of the inseparable values ​​that determine how millions of ordinary people around the world relate to each other. “

“We made the same mistake. Although we knew and recognized the role of culture and took significant steps forward, we did not – as a Greek left – but also as a government, the steps we had to take. Because even under suffocating conditions due to the memorandums, with the pressure of the lenders breathtaking, we could have done more. And unfortunately, when Myrsini assumed the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture, she was not given time to completely unfold her will, her plan, her vision. But despite all the difficulties he faced, he made significant steps. “

“Myrsini’s perspective on democracy in culture as a means of liberation of creative forces, promoting the progressive change of society and revitalizing democracy as a whole is more timely today than ever. Because we witness the desertification of democracy on both sides of the Atlantic. Of withering and over -sophistication of culture. As we monitor discrimination, inequality, insecurity, wars and the abolition of even the latest pretexts of international law to get worse. As we watch the states turn into private companies of presidents, prime ministers and oligarchs who control them. As we watch European leaders behave like king’s jerk. Myrsini had no second thoughts: the cultural and political resistance was its own way. The support of the creative forces of Europe and Greece. This is also our way. I don’t think there is another. In the language of war and the tens of thousands of dead civilians we see in Palestine and other conflicts…

“In the language of democratic decline, fear and all sorts of discrimination, multiplied by the oligarchs who control the media and social networks, we must respond in the language of solidarity, humanity, democracy and justice.

“To organize by all means that we have resistance to the dystopia created, to address many in every way possible, to defend the values ​​that kept humanity upright in the last century. When the culture of darkness attempted to drag the world into the abyss.

“This is, in my opinion, the best tribute to Myrsini Zorba’s work and life today. And in the dilemma, the culture of many, against the barbarism of the few, which comes back dramatically nowadays, our answer can be no other than the response of our own Myrsini. In this very difficult time, where we see the far right become stronger than ever on both sides of the Atlantic, the future of our democracies is a struggle for culture. The logic of the “fair of the powerful” we see in international relations touches every dimension of public life.

“And the oligarchs do not just support an alliance of right -wing and far -right politicians moving in this direction. As you know very well in Italy, there is a new cultural elite at the forefront of this new authoritarian world in liberal democracies. Working hard to combine radical conservatism with neoliberalism. Building a new type of cynicism and anti -political, paving the way for authoritarian and kleptocratic policy. The battle for the democratic values, ideas and culture we will need to give to this generation will be even more important than we have given 15 years ago against austerity and 25 years ago against neoliberal globalization. “

Alexis Tsipras concluded in his speech by saying that “despite the differences we might have, Myrsini Zorba, an intellectual of the reformist left, was mobilized with others in the radical left and stood in favor of what he believed. It has fought for democracy in culture. It is more important than ever people dealing with culture today, throughout the Atlantic, in Europe and Greece, to follow its important example. “