This was pointed out by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking tonight in the Parliament in the context of the debate on the motion of no confidence against the government. “The opposition, he stressed, violates basic rules of political practice that apply in all European countries, ignores the presumption of innocence and is indifferent to the rules of a fair trial. He doesn’t care as much about the victims as he does about the polls!’
Referring to the Tempe tragedy, the Minister of National Economy and Finance emphasized that there is no one who is not shocked, no one who has not thought that the children on the train could have been their own children. And no one believes that there are no political responsibilities – and certainly not the government. “They were undertaken by the Prime Minister himself and the then Minister of Transport who immediately submitted his resignation. But there is no one who does not believe that human error played a decisive role in the Tempe disaster. As that night the General Traffic Regulation of the OSE was violated 7 times in a very few minutes. I myself have heard with my own ears opposition MPs in the Investigative Committee admitting this,” he said.
He added that the only winner from a potential cover-up of responsibility for this tragedy is the opposition at a purely political level. “Certainly not the families of the victims and also certainly not the government. Because the citizens in these cases do not want any shadow to remain in such cases. And they punish anyone who attempts such a thing.”
Mr. Hatzidakis recalled that – in contrast – New Democracy for the Eye denounced government responsibilities, errors and omissions, but did not ask for the criminal responsibilities of Ministers to be investigated, nor did its MEPs denounce the matter in European and international forums. “Not even New Democracy had done it. Of course, SYRIZA had not thought of such things either. But neither does PASOK, which is now doing something else! All victims are victims and all families are hurting. It is clear to me, that this ruthless demagoguery serves nothing but petty party needs! The families of the victims have nothing to expect from such an opposition. Who doesn’t care as much about the victims as about the polls,” he noted. “The hopes of all of us – and ours, as we are no less sensitive human beings than you – are in Justice. A Justice that will rise to the occasion and conduct a fair trial!”
In relation to the institutional issues that are also touched upon in the latest report of the majority of the European Parliament, Mr. Hatzidakis pointed out the following:
“I am not claiming that mistakes have not been made or that there is no room for improvement. Regarding the issue of wiretapping, I have spoken myself, from this floor of the Parliament, and I have made my point of view clear. And all I have to do is repeat what I had noted back then! Without changing a word!”
But he added that one should look at the big picture, which includes:
-The report of the European Commission on the Rule of Law in 2023 in the EU which speaks in an extremely positive way about Greece!
-The report of the Group of Countries Against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), which notes the improvement of the situation in our country in recent years!
-The Economist’s report on the quality of democracy, which ranks Greece among the 20 best democracies in the world!
“Is the Economist our organ? The European Commission? The Council of Europe?’ he wondered and concluded:
“This is not the time for the country to be divided, nor to play with its future. On the contrary, it is time to move forward unitedly!
We with seriousness, speed and determination, correcting where necessary any of our mistakes.
The opposition finally trying to become less unreliable and putting aside the constant falsehood and extreme populism.
And the country without wasting the progress of recent years.
We Greeks have turned to responsibility and seriousness. And we will insist on the only political force that today guarantees a secure future for Greece and the Greeks: the New Democracy!”
Furthermore, responding to the positions of the parliamentary representatives that followed, Mr. Hatzidakis noted the following:
For the representative of SYRIZA (E. Tsakalotos):
-Obviously not everything went perfectly at OSE. But in every attempt at consolidation, the parties of the left were opposite, supporters of immobility.
For the representative of PASOK (M. Katrinis):
-I have spoken five times about wiretapping since this step. And today I spoke without being provoked. Your voters can draw their own conclusions if you are leading your party to Syrianization.
For the representative of the Hellenic Solution (K. Chitas):
– We don’t have magic recipes, your party has the magic recipes. Go and say everything you say about the economy in Perama, Keratsini, Drapetsona, Nea Ionia, Peristeri and Aegaleo. The popular layers and the workers who supported the New Democracy had a reason. It goes a long way with professionally supporting popular interests!
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