Galery

1

Greece’s European future is gathering thousands of citizens in the streets of major Greek cities. Its elite, involving scientists, financial analysts, journalists, doctors, businessmen is supporting the demonstrations too. Several days ago, GRReporter's team presented to you the opinion of President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy ELIAMEP Loukas Tsoukalis. Today we offer you the improvised conversation with Lenio Myrivili held in Syntagma Square during a pro-EU demonstration. Lenio Myrivili is a lecturer at the University of the Aegean in Mytilene, an activist in the world's largest environmental organizations and he was a candidate MP on the ticket of Drasi in 2012.

Why is it important for Greece to stay in Europe?

It is because the future of Greece is in Europe. We can imagine nothing of Greece's future outside Europe. Greece's exit from Europe is beyond our imagination, we cannot imagine it. Europe is our home, it is where we belong. Europe has contributed a lot to this country; of course, there were mistakes and we can criticize it for many things. But finding ourselves outside Europe so suddenly would be tragic, especially for the poorest but also for all of us who have some dreams. Those dreams can become reality only in a European environment. I mean the principles of equality, ecology, sustainable economic development that will not worsen the differences in the material condition of people. Europe is moving forward and we have to be in it to change for the better, we should not suddenly remain outside it.

Do people realize that staying in Europe involves obligations?

I think most of us who have been out in the streets these days realize it and we are ready to assume responsibility. Indeed, some Greeks do not understand it. But they are not more than 30 percent. The vast majority of Greeks understand that we are responsible for what happens in our country. Only with a serious position can we emerge from the situation in which we are at present.

Could we say that a new reformist bloc is now being born?

It should happen, I hope it will happen, because if it does not, the only option after SYRIZA would be a much worse undemocratic situation. Many people are going out in the streets these days, because Europe also means a guarantor of democracy in Greece. And because the opposition is completely destroyed, it practically does not exist. Many of us are afraid of what would happen if this government fell. Europe is protecting us from this fear. It is very important that so many people are taking part in the pro-European demonstrations. If you see, there are no banners, no slogans at our demonstrations, unlike the pro-government rallies. We all want to show that we are united around our only demand, namely to stay in Europe. I.e. people are willing to put aside their differences, trying to unite around this very important thing, which gives me hope that our demonstrations will lead to something more meaningful in the reformist space.

GRReporter team Maria S. Topalova, Vasilis Vafidis