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Sexual preferences - an obstacle to the alliance of the right

21 May 2012 / 23:05:58  GRReporter
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Another attempted alliance of the long suffering and broken Greek right is about to fail, and not for political reasons, but because of social racism demonstrated by one of the two potential partners. Late on Sunday, the news that the liberal parties Drasi and ReCreate Greece are about to join forces and participate together in the elections on 17 June appeared in the social media. The shadow over the coalition hung on Monday afternoon, when the leader of ReCreate Greece Thanos Tzimeros published in his Facebook profile an open "letter" to the supporters of the party, containing a phrase popular from the ancient Greek tragedies, "Hit me, but first listen to me." He described in the letter why his party would form a coalition with Stefanos Manos’ Drasi and how this alliance would bring new reformist spirit into the Greek Parliament.

But the surprise lies in a small paragraph with the heading "Valianatos." It is about the head of the Liberal Alliance, who participated with Drasi in the elections on May 6. Its leader Grigoris Valianatos is an outspoken activist for gay rights and his involvement in a potential coalition has clearly irritated Thanos Tzimeros and his followers.
  
"We disagree with his involvement in any way. We respect his sense of humour, his rich knowledge and recognize him as a successful activist for gay rights, but that is all. We hope that the matter be settled by tomorrow. You will be informed. If it is not settled, the cooperation is void."

Grigoris Valianatos replied laconically, "I have never disputed my values. I will not do it now either." There is no reply from Stefanos Manos so far. It seems that the former reformist minister could remain without partners in the election race, despite his calls for forming a broad pro-European front, involving right and centre-left forces to protect the European future of Greece.
 
At the same time, the most highly anticipated pre-election collaboration is already a fact and was officially announced at the headquarters of the "blue". An embarrassed smile and applause have officially approved the political "marriage" between the long-standing bitter enemies Dora Bakogiannis and Antonis Samaras. Democratic Alliance has ceased its activities until the elections on 17 June and its leader stated, "We must eliminate all political and personal disputes in the face of the danger for Greece" and urged other political parties to unite their efforts for the European future of Greece.

Having announcing that 30 deputies from the Democratic Alliance will participate in the ballot of New Democracy and that she will head the central party list, Dora Bakogiannis urged the Greeks "to close their ears to left and right populism."

Antonis Samaras, in turn, said that his goal is to create a "patriotic front for Europe." He welcomed Dora Bakogiannis for her decision, saying: "The stakes for the alliance do not end here" and attacked LAOS leader George Karatzaferis without stating his name, "Some party leadership took our proposal with pettiness."

Despite the general enthusiasm, the Member of European Parliament from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Theodoros Skilakakis and close associate of Dora Bakogiannis announced his resignation from the Democratic Alliance in protest against her decision to cooperate with New Democracy.

A while ago, former members of LAOS Athanasios Plevris and Geroge Anatolakis joined the "blue" camp and Kyriakos Velopoulos and Kostas Kiltidis are expected to follow them tomorrow. Their move to leave the party and to respond to Antonis Samaras’ call infuriated party leader George Karatzaferis who issued an angry message and accused them of treason.

It all started on Saturday, when he announced his decision for LAOS to participate in the next elections alone. The deputies opposed his decision and he replied that the unhappy could leave. The first one to do this was the young lawyer Athanassios Plevris, who was about to be lynched by the members of the youth organization, who had gathered at the party headquarters.

Stelios Stavridis, who headed Drasi’s party list in the elections on 6 May, has announced his decision to support New Democracy, although he is not a candidate for deputy. He said that after that date, the situation in Greece has changed dramatically and that the next election race will determine the European perspective of Greece, which is threatened by "populists, who sell false hope to people."

Tags: PoliticsDrasiReCreate GreeceGrigoris ValianatosHomosexualActivistStefanos ManosNew DemocracyDora BakogiannisLAOS
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