Interview with DIMITRIS TRIANTAFYLLOPOULOS
Born in Athens (1972) and originally from the Peloponnese, is a publisher, journalist (director of ThePresident.gr-one commentator, founder of AΦens Bookstore Publications, Liberal.gr, executive of En Lefko), with long experience in the Communication of large multinationals and companies (McCann Erickson, Cosmote, Pfizer, Microsoft, Coca Cola, Nokia etc.). In 2009, he took over the communication of the Ministry of Culture and the representative of the State in OPAP, but also the director of the Press Office of the ND and (2012-2015) of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. He has studied Marketing Management-History, Archeology-Art, with a master’s degree in Political Science.
George Mouroutis, as a ND MEP candidate, speaks on “Peloponnisos” ahead of the June 9 elections.
– You made a surprise by participating in the ND’s European ballot. Apart from the proposal of K. Mitsotakis, how did your personal decision to expose yourself to politics come about?
It was the Prime Minister’s honorary invitation, which when it comes to you, you can’t say… no. It has an institutional role and when it calls you to fight for your country and your faction, you can’t say… no.
– A lot is heard about the way candidates were chosen by the parties. That is, if they are the right ones. What is your comment?
Don’t get me wrong. Citizens must know that the European elections are very crucial. Over parties, let’s choose the people who can do things, have appetite and know how to do work! This is a fair exhortation to the readers.
– However, people believe that journalists and prominent persons take advantage of their position. To what extent does this concern you?
For the last decade, I have not lived from journalism income. I have a publishing house. That is, I have a purely business activity. I am the only ND candidate from the business sector. I do not count myself among the featured, but among the people of the Market and the free Economy.
– Are you saying that there should be no prohibitive characteristics in the candidate MEPs?
I believe that in politics there should be no… aristocratic features. Someone must have the same opportunities, whether they are actors, footballers, nuclear physicists, artists, poor or rich, in democracy everyone has the same starting point. Society, in the end, can find the best options.
– There is talk of a serious European agenda, but without corresponding interest of the citizens. Why should this change?
70% of the decisions in the European Parliament determine our daily life. From immigration, security, development and financing, to nutrition, energy and technology. Everything, big and small, is decided in Europe. So they concern us personally.
– There is already a lot of talk about participation in the European elections. Why should no one be absent from the polls?
It is not a routine vote. It’s not an election, where we have to go vote and send a message, positive or negative. It is a vote that will determine our fortunes for at least the next 5 years. In the coming period, it will be decided whether Greece will be able to block decisions that do not serve it in the EU. It is the issue of Cyprus, which is in the EU, but under occupation.”
– Is the June election at stake, after all, the next day in the EU or a stable government of Greece by the ND?
Both of them. The dilemma for the interior of the country was not raised by Mitsotakis, but by the opposition and especially by Kasselakis who even talked about double elections with observers. So we were forced to talk about avoiding instability. The opposition’s speech is toxic. It raises the tone and that is unfair to the character of this election. However, the election is still a… institutionalized referendum for the government to continue its work and reforms undisturbed.
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