Galery

3

2

1

Maria S. Topalova
    In the Sunday morning the streets of Athens are empty and moving through town is fast. When, however, I draw on the building of the former Olympic Badminton Centre, traffic begins to form. Many have decided to attend the establishment of the new party of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Mayor of Athens Dora Bakoyannis. It is early and until the officially announced start time there are 45 minutes, but the parking lot is already crowded with cars.
    In front of the hall, and inside it is full of people from all over Greece. The residents of the island of Crete stand out, dressed in their traditional uniforms wearing black hats on their heads. All ages, all backgrounds. There are children, and I also see a man of artificial respiration, who had also found the strength for a political activity. The mood is upbeat.
    "I made a free choice of a new beginning in which there will be cooperation and we are looking forward. Today is a joyous day for the Greeks because we are not just few. We are many. We all want to contribute in a democratic way for exiting a crisis which is real. To unite the various positions, not to close our eyes to the truth. I look forward with optimism," said Sophia Kalantzakos before journalists. She is a former deputy Minister of Employment and Social Protection from the government of Costas Karamanlis and is one of the many representatives of New Democracy, who have chosen to support Dora Bakoyannis today.
    The creation of the Democratic Alliance is the first major disturbance in the Greek political space after the entry of the International Monetary Fund in the country. The financial hurricane usually changes radically the political landscape of the countries through which it passes. Dora Bakoyannis was suspended from the blue party, where her father was honorary chairman, because she supported with her vote in Parliament the entry into the agreement with the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.
    Other known faces from New Democracy also turn up. In the badminton center enter the MP Christos Markogiannakis, who openly supported the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and his colleague Costas Kilkidis independent MP. When the car of Dora Bakoyannis also appeared the crowd greeted her with applause and chanting. Daughter of Konstantinos Mitsotakis she is slowly making her way to the entrance of the hall, which is overcrowded. There is no room even for the people standing. And when she goes in, as a political spell and omen of impetuous events the famous track of Queen "We will rock you" rocks the hall.
    "This will be a formation of reserved opinions and specific decisions", said Dora Bakoyannis from the rostrum. Her speech lasts about an hour. Is was frequently interrupted by applause and cheers. She spoke about the hundreds of thousands of private workers who have lost their jobs, about the freelance professionals, whose incomes are falling through the floor, she mentions also the civil servants and admits that the country is experiencing a difficult moment. "We say No to Greece, to those whimpering and complaining. We can, we are capable, we are tough, and we will succeed," says the voice from the rostrum.
    Not only in the hall, there is excitement, but also in the lobbies of the former badminton center. Thousands of people are registering their names in the newly established party. But at the queues in front the lists there is no nervousness and violence, people are calm and sociable. In the middle of the central lobby there is an elegant statue of the olive branch, on which those who came are leaving their personal messages for the politician: "Dora, we're with you!", "Courage!". "A lot of people, great enthusiasm. Something new was born that would act as a catalyst for the major changes that are under way. I am very optimistic that during the next parliamentary elections we will do very well", said the MEP Theodoros Skylakakis, who is one of the closest associates of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs. He does not hide how pleasantly surprised he is by the huge interest in the new political formation.
    November 21st clearly demonstrated that the supporters of Dora Bakoyannis are many. Greeks are disappointed with both major political parties PASOK and New Democracy, which share equally the responsibility for the unenviable position of the country at the moment. Many observers believe that now the time for the formation of new political parties is very appropriate. But there are also people who doubt the political future of Bakoyannis, because it will be stormy. She took the challenge and promised: We Will Rock You!
    Will this, however, bring her the desired success?