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New parties of old acquaintances are threatening traditional players

13 March 2012 / 19:03:09  GRReporter
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Determined to fight to the end for the political survival of LAOS is its chairman George Karatzaferis. Sources say he was "flirting" with the former governor of Central Macedonia, Panagiotis Psomiadis.

At the same time, several days after the establishment of his patriotic network for incitement - PATRIDA, he has become the target of justice again. This time, a criminal persecution was filed against him and his brother Dionysis Psomiadis who has replaced him in the post he lost less than a year ago. The reason for this is so that the public procurement contracts with a budget up to 45,000 euro are carried out after an informal competition.

"Why is there this psychosis about Psomiadis? It is obvious that some are trying to silence me. They are even from my ideological space," said Panagiotis Psomiadis. "They are troubled because I keep talking about our homeland, about Greece, Macedonia, the Orthodoxy and the people," he added.

After a long meeting with George Karatzaferis a few days ago, the former governor sent a message to New Democracy. "I was, I am and I will continue to be against the policy of the memorandum, without changing my position because I cannot accept that the impoverishment of our people is the only solution." Panagiotis Psomiadis added that he knows the command source of the attacks against him. "I know what they said in a particular place. Sources told me that they have firmly stated, "We must destroy him."

LAOS said that the rumours of Panagiotis Psomiadis joining the party are speculative. But insiders said that his meeting with George Karatzaferis and the hints to New Democracy should not be ignored.

Panagiotis Psomiadis won 10 per cent of the votes during the internal party elections for the leadership of New Democracy in 2009 and his political presence in the region around Thessaloniki is particularly strong. Many of his supporters are trying to convince him that the PATRIDA movement should grow into a political party.

Under these conditions, many commentators believe that collaboration between the former governor and LAOS should not be excluded if New Democracy does not mend its relationship with him and does not recognize his leading role among the supporters of the Right in Northern Greece. According to them, after Makis Voridis has left LAOS and joined New Democracy, Panagiotis Psomiadis will automatically become second in the party hierarchy of LAOS following its leader George Karatzaferis who will surely provide a seat in parliament.

All these scenarios are quite possible; therefore, the leader of New Democracy believes that he must fight on several fronts. His purpose is to limit the losses that cost him the vote on the second memorandum for financial aid to Greece as much as possible.

Besides Evangelos Venizelos, who most likely will be elected president of PASOK next Sunday and the attacks by the Left, Antonis Samaras must press the right forces if he is willing to provide better election conditions for the "blue." To the right of New Furthermore are not only LAOS but also the "Independent Greeks" of the former deputy Panos Kamenos as well as the far right from "Golden Dawn". All are "winking" to the right convinced voters who are completely against the policy "of the memorandum." Under these conditions, Antonis Samaras will deliver to the fore the "hard" plan. This was reflected in his speech before the members of the political committee, in which he touched topics such as security, illegal immigration, national identity and other related matters.

New Democracy is particularly concerned about the risk of outflow of votes to the newly established party "Independent Greeks" and knows that it has to convince a large majority of its supporters in the party leadership decision to support the memorandum.

For this purpose, Antonis Samaras reinforced the patriotic note in his political rhetoric and with the phrase "with God's help we will win" tried to move the right voters.

But problems with the fragmentation of the electorate are not only "blue". The party of the former government ministers George Papandreou, Louka Katseli and Harris Kastanidis who were disaffiliated with PASOK, because they voted for the second memorandum, will be established tomorrow. They are expected to present the inaugural declaration, the name and logo of the party, which will initially involve existing supporters of PASOK. Among them will be five of the disaffiliated members of PASOK, along with Louka Katseli and Harris Kastanidis.

The new party will have two leaders, following the example of the German Social Democratic Party. According to sources, Louka Katseli will chair it and Harris Kastanidis will head the parliamentary group.

 

Tags: PoliticsNew partiesGeorge KartdzaferisPanagiotis PsomiadisLouka KatseliHarris KastanidisIndependant Greeks
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