Just before the ND Congress, the former General Secretary of the Prime Minister talks, in an interview with “Real News”, about Kyriakos Mitsotakis, New Democracy, Al. Tsipras, N. Androulakis, Ant.
For his first interview after years of silence, the former General Secretary of the Prime Minister, Grigoris Dimitriadis, gave his first interview to the Sunday “Real News”.
“Since 2022, when I resigned, I took it all upon myself to protect the party and the government. We will go united and I will be the last one to cause trouble,” Demetriades says, stressing on the attacks on him over the wiretapping: “During my term of office, I spoiled the interests of the corruption that works against the interests of the country. I have borne this burden and will continue to do so.”
The former General Secretary of the Prime Minister refers to Antonis Samaras, Androulakis and Tsipras and makes it absolutely clear that he does not intend to create an internal party problem in New Democracy, sending a message of unity ahead of the Congress.
In a conversation with journalist Panagios Galiatsatos, Dimitriadis notes, among other things:
– Answering the question, “Are you involved in the wiretapping case?”“I took political responsibility to protect the government, the secret services, my party, but above all the country. Nothing more.”
-For Nikos Androulakis and the announcement of a Commission of Inquiry on his part: “First of all, let’s talk about the legal aspect. And a first-year law student knows that on the one hand we have three decisions -orders of the Supreme Court- and on the other hand a judge of the unicameral court, well, I leave it here, there is no need to say anything else. Mr Androulakis has chosen to politicise in a certain way, he is constantly angry and generally seems to feed on a toxicity which, frankly, from a certain point onwards I cannot understand. You don’t do politics with a complex. The rest is about specific centres that lead from behind closed doors.
– Going a step further he says: “We have two categories of ecosystems. One category is people who actually have a sensitivity to the rule of law and civil liberties. That is perfectly respectable. And I’m a lawyer myself, I totally understand that. They have every right to criticize and say what they think is right. But there is a second category that has been exploiting this issue in a disproportionate way and has artificially kept it open for years, trying to influence current affairs and create certain impressions. Besides, politically, the issue has already been decided in two elections. And to put it bluntly, during my term of office I have spoiled the fun of the interconnectedness that works against the interests of the country. I have borne that burden and will continue to do so. To clash with the interests of the cabal for the benefit of the country.”
“Toxicity on the Square”
-On the political climate and possible developments after the elections: “It is true that the climate is particularly toxic and reminds us of other times. I cannot understand in case there is no self-reliance how the political leaders of the opposition will coexist with the current government if a coalition government is required. This worries me deeply. Let us not forget, however, that this story started during the “Memorandum-Anmemorandum” era. With Alexis Tsipras as the high priest of toxicity and character assassination. Now he is followed by Nikos Androulakis. Toxicity, that is, in the square”.
-For the crises he handled (Evros, Migration, Eastern Aegean, Pandemic) and the shots at the current staff state: “The reality is that there is no good and bad staff state, there is good and bad organization, there are good and bad managers. But it is not honest to zero out. As far as the executive state is concerned, who would have thought when we took over the governance of the country that in a week 112 would be operational? Also, the digital revolution, the macroeconomic stability of the country, the upgrading of foreign policy, are all a result of the functioning of the executive state. If you were told , 15 years back that a pandemic would come and you would receive a message on your mobile phone and you would be vaccinated so immediately, would you believe it? “And as far as Evros, migration and the crisis in the Aegean, I want to stress the following. It was the NIS that was instrumental – among other things – in managing the crisis in Evros, in containing the tensions in the Aegean and in the migration issue, during the period when I was Secretary General to the Prime Minister. Attacking the NSS and the other state security services for petty partisan purposes, in a time of war and uncertainty, who does it really serve?”
-Given the press reports that much of the Congress has a reference to him, Dimitriadis was asked about his stance and replied: “I have served the party since I was a little boy. The Southwest is my extended family. I always seek to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. But because some people are cultivating malicious rumours that I am seeking to create a problem, that is really a shame. Since I resigned in 2022, I have taken it all upon myself to protect the party and the government. We will go in united and I will be the last one to create trouble. Besides, it is not in my code to create problems for the team, who have fought so many common battles, let alone my family.”
“I will not be a candidate”
When asked if he was interested in returning, he noted: “No. Regardless of the fact that it goes without saying that I will support and vote for this government and Kyriakos Mitsotakis for Prime Minister. But I will continue to serve my party in a volunteer capacity. You know, the relationships that have been built over the years are personal and I do not assign them to anyone. I always support my friends.” Demetriades also makes it clear that he will not be a candidate in the next national elections and makes an interesting reference to Samaras: “I want to make a special mention to Antonis Samaras, because on a personal level he honoured me with his friendship and for me friendships are sacred. I honour and respect him. After all, he was an excellent Prime Minister in very difficult years.”
Source: Protagon.gr
