Interview with Stefanos Nikolaidis

With political journey directly connected to the New Democracy and experience both in backdrop as well as in forefrontthe Blessed Lazaridis belongs to that generation of executives who lived the Transition as children and they served as adult. Kavala; man with intense political presencecomments on his tribute skai.gr the great momentsthe errors and lessons her post -political course.

By the democratic stability and European courseuntil the today’s challenges of institutions and social cohesion, speak with pure political identity and faith to continuity. And sends his own message to young – not only to participatebut to actively formulate her Next Day of the Republic.

The whole interview:

– What does ‘post -region’ mean to you personally?

The Transition for me is not just a historical period. It is a political and institutional leap to democratization, freedom and the foundation of the country’s European orientation. Personally, I am experiencing it as a constant bet: never to return to arbitrariness, lack of accountability, marginalization of rights.

– What do you consider the most important institutional or social breakthrough of the period?

Institutionally, the EEC of the EEC today gave Greece a “anchor” of stability, progress and credibility. But socially, I will dwell on the establishment of popular sovereignty, as an existential basis of political life: the fact that every citizen’s vote is of importance, that power stems from the people and returns to it. This, for me, is priceless.

Blessed Lazaridis

– Do you think we have gone through a “post-metaphorical” era? If so, when and why?

Yes, and we see it clearly in the generations that have become adults in crises: economic, pandemic, energy. The belief in the “great narratives” of the Transition has retreated. The new era is characterized by demand for efficiency, transparency, technocratic competence and less tolerance for ideological pretexts. Passage to post-transition means a requirement for substance, not just for symbolism.

– In your opinion is the greatest risk for democracy today?

To get bored. To think “it is a given”. To press “Skip” and leave it in the “background”, while others decide for us. The biggest mistake is to think “nothing change”. When you stop care, there are those who “care” you too much and usually not for good.

Blessed Lazaridis

– If you were talking to a 17 -year -old voter today, what would you tell him that he was worth defending?

I would say to him: Don’t give your voice to anyone. If you do not vote, someone else will decide for you. Defend the right to be free, to be different, to have an opinion and not to cancel you. Democracy is exactly that: the place where your opinion matters. It is worth keeping it alive, not as a relic, but as a tool. Like Wi-Fi: When it works, you don’t think about it. When it falls, panic. Don’t learn it from the difficult side.