Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Militiadis Varvitsiotis’ speech at the session of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs -main points (Athens, 31.01.2023)
The announcement by SYRIZA’s President Alexis Tsipras that the main opposition party will abstain from voting in Parliament was commented today by Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, during a session of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs. Mr Varvitsiotis underlined that there is no parliamentary debate that does not result in a vote. By adopting this stance SYRIZA is turning its back on democratic institutions, which ought to be defended by every democratic force that participates in the Hellenic Parliament, the Alternate Minister emphasized.
Furthermore, the Alternate Minister expressed confidence that the toxic climate created by SYRIZA -due to its poor performance in the opinion polls and the failure of its opposition – has no resonance with the Greek people. On the contrary, he expressed confidence that Greeks would prefer stability and clarity in political relations by re-electing New Democracy and Kyriakos Mitsotakis with clear majority. Commenting on SYRIZA’s efforts to approach PASOK, he underscored that he sees “a huge flirting” by the main opposition party, which forgot phrases like “Samarovenizelos” (a reference to a coalition government formed by New Democracy and PASOK), “fifth columnists” and “bad PASOK” and is attempting to enter the area of social democracy, which it used to oppose as a representative of the Left in Europe.
The Alternate Minister began his speech by stating that today is a day of commemoration in honor of the heroes of Imia. He stressed the need to defend our national sovereignty and strengthen the armed forces, which the government carries out by fulfilling its national duty. At the same time, he expressed his sorrow for the loss of Lieutenant Marios Michael Touroutsikas and his condolences to his family and relatives, as well as his anxiety for the search for Captain Efstathios Tsitlakidis.
Regarding the ratification of the EU Trade Agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, Mr. Varvitsiotis pointed out that this is an agreement with which the EU broadens the scope of its trade relations, removing barriers, and that this benefits Greek exports, as well as the protection of PDO products.