On the occasion of the visit to Serres by Alexis Tsipras, Serra candidate and former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karamanliscommented on the opinions and public statements of the President of SYRIZA.

“Today in Serra, Mr. Tsipras proved that we belong to two different worlds, we express diametrically opposed political views and values. On the one hand, responsibility and seriousness, and on the other, political adventurism and populism. On the one hand, the path of stability and progress within Europe, and on the other hand, regression and dangerous experiments with the future of the country,” commented Mr. Karamanlis.

“We do not forget that Mr. Tsipras and his party played the crown of the greatest conquest of the Greeks in the post-colonial period, the integration of Greece into the European family, which was planned and carried out by the late Kon / Nos Karamanlis. We do not forget that Mr. Tsipras, who has now chosen Macedonia to become a citizen, signed the Prespa Agreement too easily. Let’s not forget that shortly before the defeat in the 2019 elections, he decided to change the electoral law in order to once again plunge the country into instability.

So the choice is clear: we move forward towards progress and stability, or we return to adventure. And something more personal: Mr. Tsipras’ decision to attack me is a typical example of political opportunism.

Taking political responsibility is a concept unknown to Mr. Tsipras. He also knows no respect for the citizens of Serra. He comes now, after many years of indifference in the city of Serres, to point out to us that we must demolish the castle.

I would like to inform Mr. Tsipras that Serres is indeed a castle of the Republic. The castle of the country’s European path, as defined by the founder of the New Democracy Konstantinos Karamanlis, which began from this very place. Castle of free choice. This free choice will be expressed on 21 May by the citizens of Serra. And they will give Mr. Tsipras a resounding response.”

Tsipras: Whose bribe was the fatal stationmaster?

Speaking in the city of Serres, the President of SYRIZA stated that “this is not fair to Serrai people that Karamanlis of Tempes will make him an accomplice.” He added that both “Mr. Mitsotakis and the former Minister of Infrastructure must answer to the Greek people, “whose bribe was the fateful stationmaster.”

Subsequently, Alexis Tsipras spoke about the reasons that, according to him, led him to decide to run as a candidate in the city of Serres: “The first reason is that I deeply believe that two-speed Greeks do not exist. I strongly believe that the region deserves to have equal or even greater rights in the development of this place. The second reason is related to the fact that I give and we give, despite the orgy of disinformation and propaganda, a special value for our Macedonia and its prefectures, and that is why I chose my participation in the Macedonian law. The third reason is that Serres and your prefecture may have a name, but they have not received any services in the last 4 years. Equally, it is a prefecture discredited by unemployment, or rather, by abandonment.

The fourth reason is that I think it is unfair to the Serrai people that some people want the Serrai people to wash away a great tragedy, a crime that must not be forgotten, the tragedy of Tempe. It is not fair that the people of Serrai and your county are mentioned in this election in connection with Karamanlis of Tembon. I honor the conservative voters, and I also honor the political family that gave the country important things. But sometimes familialism – and this is instructive for every citizen, regardless of who votes – can lead us into situations that are not only deeply conservative and unjust, but also dangerous. Because when someone bearing only his last name holds positions of responsibility and rules over people’s lives, this state of familiarity can become dangerous, not only deeply conservative and unfair.”