On the long road to the elections for the election of a new PASOK president, on October 6, candidate leader-MP Ilias Michalis Katrinis, answers the questions of “Peloponnisos”.
– Every candidate must have a clear mark. What is yours? What is the message of your candidacy?
I am a candidate because I cannot accept the idea that PASOK should be a small and medium-sized party, of 13% or 15%, with the sole aim of second place or to be (at some point) a government partner of Mr. Mitsotakis. There is a large social majority that does not agree with the idea that the country should have a New Democracy government and Mr. Mitsotakis as prime minister. This social majority sent the loudest message to the entire political system in the European elections. Both with the crushing of the ND, and with the brutal abstinence. I am contesting my election to the position of president to open our party to this great majority, to connect it with initiatives, leading to a great faction, which will win the elections and express the great social opposition, which seeks way out and a credible governance plan.
– How difficult is it for a provincial MP to run for the position of chairman in his party?
It is, perhaps, difficult for those who have the notion that in order to claim the position of president, one must be from a “fireplace”, be supported by strong economic factors and have as a point of reference the Athenian-centric state and what it represents . I am far from this perception and logic. I am proud to be a Member of Parliament for Ilia, coming from the Region of Western Greece. Parties do not exist to serve economic interests. A party, like PASOK, must express the many, the underprivileged of the time, the world of work, the young, the small and medium entrepreneurs. These are our interlocutors, and when we moved away from them, we ended up with anemic rates. The time has come to meet again with all this world, our natural, social allies.
– You are perhaps the only candidate who prioritizes regional development. What does this mean for Western Greece and for the country?
It means another, a completely different logic for the development pattern of the country. Today, development resources are managed by the Athenian-centric state with a proprietary logic. It directs them to the few and the powerful, in a parasitic development model that does not create wealth for the country. Regional development is linked to new infrastructures, a new development model, in terms of viability and sustainability. With tax decentralization that will be combined with resources that will be utilized by the self-government, with investment in research, innovation. With a new development law that will not be cut and sewn to suit the few and powerful. It is time for creative Greece to come forward. The Greece of the new, balanced, regional development. The Greece that will embrace all regions of the country. It will give them development orientation, opportunities, hope, perspective.
– And for Western Greece, where do you find the lag problems?
Western Greece is in 11th place among the 13 regions of the country in terms of GDP per capita, i.e. it is one of the poorest regions of the country. That says it all. It has a lack of infrastructure, antiquated irrigation networks, inadequate broadband networks, digital lag even in urban areas, problematic road network. Huge inequalities and problems in areas such as education, health, low added value of the primary sector is recorded, while we are practically off the map of tourist destinations. An integrated regional development plan must aim to increase the overall economic size of the GDP of the Western Greece Region, reduce production and income inequalities, and address the demographic problem. Western Greece can become a portal of entry and communication to the Adriatic and Europe, develop dynamic crops and produce products of high added value. To turn into a dynamic four-season tourist destination, to form a competitive and productive model of economic development with our own human resources and local entrepreneurship as a major protagonist.
– You have targeted a large faction. How will it be done and who can participate? I mean, which parties?
Grand formation cannot be done by party fusions, collusions and summit agreements behind closed doors. It is not a matter of agreement between leaderships, which, as they are used to operating, are sure to choose denial in order to keep their power in a small, medium or small party. I’m the only one talking about a big lineup. And this great array will be built on the base, without sums and components. This faction will be made great by the citizens, who have a progressive direction and the 3.5 million citizens, who have not voted for a long time because they have nothing to vote for. The prospect of the big lineup concerns them and they will be protagonists. I believe that it is perhaps the last chance for PASOK, which must take the initiative to create a major party in power. This initiative can be manifested by the formulation of a comprehensive proposal of governance principles and policies for all. This will be put into an open public debate within society at the initiative of PASOK and with citizens and society playing an active role.
– If in the next elections there is no possibility of an independent government, will PASOK cooperate with ND?
No, by no means. Greece deserves better. It is a given that self-reliance for Mr. Mitsotakis is now an elusive goal. And in order to remain in it, it is logical to look for a government partner. For PASOK, any case of cooperation with Mr. Mitsotakis is unthinkable, as well as the suspicion that we might be his interlocutors. People who come from PASOK and flirted with or glorified Mr. Mitsotakis, who have now realized what he represents, are condemned, morally and politically, they have been discredited in the conscience of democratic citizens. I am against these logics and perceptions. My candidacy aims to make it clear who we are with and above all who we are not with, as PASOK. Because Mr. Mitsotakis has chosen who he is with. In everyday problems, such as punctuality, Mr. Mitsotakis is with the speculators, the few, the providers and not with the citizens. As far as the rule of law is concerned, Mr. Mitsotakis has shown who he is with: with the dirty networks, with the cover-up of lawlessness and the violation of the rules of the rule of law. Co-government with New Democracy is not on my agenda. There is only one topic of discussion: the creation of a grand ruling party.
– Can the faction claim to become the government in the next elections?
The conditions exist, it depends on us. The citizens sent the most resounding message in the European elections that no one can downplay. A message of disapproval of the one-and-a-half party political system, but also a resounding message of condemnation of the Mitsotakis government. The citizens will not wait for us for long. I interpret the message of the European elections as a strong and absolute command and demand for the creation of a large faction. Because parties of 13 and 15%, they are neither parties of power, nor a large faction.
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