European Parliament: Inauguration of the “Andreas Papandreou” Hall

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The president of PASOK-Movement for Change Nikos Androulakis summarized the work of Andreas Papandreou in the triptych “peace, social justice and national reconciliation” during the opening of the “Andreas Papandreou” room which took place tonight in the European Parliament in Strasbourg

In a few words and with emotion, Nikos Androulakis described the political personality of the founder of PASOK, at the opening of the “Andreas Papandreou” room that took place tonight at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in the presence of MPs from all political parties in Greece. It was a personal initiative of Mr. Androulakis that bore fruit after two years of efforts.

The president of PASOK-Movement for Change Nikos Androulakis summarized the work of Andreas Papandreou in the triptych “peace, social justice and national reconciliation” and referred to his most important actions, at the domestic, European and international level.

“He left behind the establishment to create PASOK which wanted to express the anxieties of a wounded people after Attila’s barbaric invasion of Cyprus,” said Mr. Androulakis, characterizing Andreas Papandreou as a historical continuation of the great leaders of the democratic faction, Charilaou Trikoupis and Eleftherios Venizelos.

He gave the opportunity to the “underprivileged” for a better life, he noted, using this emblematic phrase of the founder of PASOK.

He referred to the NHS and its education reforms that “became tools to reduce inequalities” as well as “groundbreaking bills for gender equality” such as equal pay for equal work and the right to abortion, as well as the recognition of the national resistance that “closed the wounds of the civil war and the junta, allowing the return of political refugees”.

In foreign policy he “forged national dignity”.

He participated in the Six initiative with Olaf Palme and Indira Gandhi fought for nuclear disarmament and world peace.

At the European level, with the creation of the Mediterranean Integrated Programs that covered S. Italy and S. France, the foundations were laid for European cohesion policy.

Andreas Papandreou has been speaking since 1994, at the signing session of the accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden, about the need for a “common foreign and security policy as well as economic integration” so that Europe has a strong presence on the international stage.

Before Mr. Androulakis, Nikos Papandreou spoke online, developing the multifaceted personality of Andreas as an academic, politician and father.

The ceremony was opened by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who pointed out the Greek leader’s commitment to democracy, which, she said, should not be taken for granted. He even mentioned the example of Ukraine, stressing that it is a test for our democracy.

The president of the European Socialists, Irathe García Peres, also addressed a greeting.

At the modest ceremony, videos were shown of some of the most important appearances of the founder of PASOK and of the most prominent personalities who collaborated with him: Melina Merkouris, George Gennimatas, Yasser Arafat, Olaf Palme.

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