His first TV interview since the Tempe train tragedy was given by his president. SYRIZA-PSAlexis Tsipras.

Starting his interview on MEGA TV channel, Mr. Alexis Tsipras in reference to the Tempi tragedy, he stressed that “all Greeks experienced this pain because they felt they could be themselves on the train.” When asked about the responsibility of the SYRIZA government for the situation on the railways during his reign, Al. Tsipras said:I didn’t argue with responsibility. I took and take at critical moments, but the one that belongs to me“.

Full interview with Alexis Tsipras

In particular, he pointed out that the SYRIZA government took “responsibility” at “critical moments” for “cases that did not even concern their own actions.” “In 2015, I took it upon myself not to bankrupt the country, and I was criticized for doing a back flip. Later, I took it upon myself to do what I considered to be in the patriotic interests of the country, and found myself the object of criticism for the Prespa Agreement. I also took responsibility for the tragedies that I also experienced, with human casualties that were not caused by human actions, natural disasters, but I took responsibility and took it upon myself,” he said, noting that in Tempe we had “a tragic event that shouldn’t have happened”.

“It’s unthinkable, there’s no excuse for it. After 12 minutes, two trains were moving in opposite directions, on one line, and there is a double one,” he added, commenting that the “conclusion” of the layman is that “a state created in the way it was created does not provide elementary security for the Greek citizen.

“We ruled for four years, one of the most difficult with memos. We did not build this unworthy, clientelist, corrupt, inefficient state. But we have to fix it.”he stressed.

“We will do everything necessary for those who are needed, wherever they are, to find out the truth and ensure justice,” Alexis Tsipras also said about the tragedy in Tempi.

Alexis Tsipras, elsewhere in his interview, also referred to Supreme Court Prosecutor Isidoros Dogiakos, characteristically saying: “I would resign if I were Mr. Dogiakos. His son was a transfer officer of a minister who today is in a crisis of society and tomorrow in a crisis of justice. If my son were on duty with Mr. Karamanlis, I would feel there is a conflict of interest,” he said.

He was, however, also asked about a different stance on his own responsibilities for the Eye – when he spoke of eternal responsibilities – and he replied: “It’s hard to make up for tragedies. However, one of them is associated with an extreme natural phenomenon caused by a natural disaster, which was prolonged due to the inefficient management of the state apparatus. In the second we have a tragedy caused by purely anthropogenic causes.

Regarding Kostas Karamanlis and the comparison with Mr. Tosca, who was operationally responsible for Mati, he said: “Here we are witnessing the disappearance of Karamanlis. Who for 16 days did not give an explanation. Mr. Toskas then took responsibility for the mismanagement of the business and resigned. He then ran for office. However, in the past, no minister has resigned after the fires, Mr. Polidoras has not resigned after the fires in Ilia. The difference is that here we have purely man-made reasons, and it feels like Mr. Karamanlis is trying to get elected by hiding.”

On the issue of elections and opinion polls, he replied: “At some point, the prime minister has to tell us which Sunday in May we have elections, this game with the date of the elections must stop. There was an election plan for April 9th. Because of the accident, they cannot be made, and discussing July or August is a shame. It is the responsibility of Mr. Mitsotakis to move towards a non-toxic political dialogue and know from now on when the elections will take place.”

Regarding the surveys, he commented: “I got the negative impression that in the days when we were still burying our people, some people took measurements. In general, what I see and what we need to study is a new phenomenon, we have a surge of a new generation, people 17-30 years old who do not have the characteristics of a period of memories. This is against the entire political system. We will see it in its development. The main thing is who will vote. The latest measurements show that the ruling party is falling, and the difference is on the verge of statistical error. The next match will be difficult, and the goal we have set is absolutely achievable for the victory and the government of progressive forces.”

Possibility for a government of progressive forces or simple proportionality

As to whether he would resign if he lost the fifth election, he replied: “Politics judges the Greek people. I assure you that I feel responsible for taking on public duties. I don’t feel like history owes me, really. If my party collectively decided that Tsipras was to blame for the defeat, I would leave and write books. We have collective decisions, and we decide collectively, 150,000 members have decided on my election. The important thing is that if the country changes direction, and the biggest change will be that for the first time we will have simple proportionality, which will lead to a cooperation government.” He made it clear that “SYRIZA is not going to take revenge, not to destroy, but to create.” Of a previous cooperative government, he said: “I was forced to co-govern with a partner who was ideologically opposed, and this showed up in the Prespa Agreement. Now there is an opportunity to agree on a program agreement between the progressive forces.” Regarding the executions of the President of PASOK-KINAL, he said: “Mr. Androulakis is fighting from the same pool of votes, he is expected to criticize.” However, in the meantime, and now the critical moment of the people’s verdict is coming, it will give an answer on how the country will be governed. However, he assured that he did not want a government of losers, because in addition to the fact that in this case the numbers would not come out, there was also a moral question.

Finally, he was asked about Mr. Polakis, and he replied: “SYRIZA is a democratic party, institutions make decisions. I, as a leader, was responsible for his statements and therefore sent him to the authorities, when the lived moments pass, we will decide this collectively.

With information from APE-MPE