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Anastasia Balezdrova

Potami party that was established less than a year ago had a strong start in its first participation in elections. It now has two representatives in the European Parliament and it seems that it is to play a leading role in the next Greek Parliament.

Recent polls show that Potami ranks third in the preferences of Greek voters with a rate of about 6%.

Party leader and one of the most famous journalists in Greece Stavros Theodorakis is carrying out his pre-election activities under the slogan "We want to change everything without destroying the country" and in a radically different way compared to the campaigns of other parties.

Theodorakis held another discussion with citizens in Piraeus. In a blitz interview for GRReporter he presented the main goals of the party in relation to the elections.

Mr. Theodorakis, what is the aim of Potami party in the upcoming elections?

The aim is to be a strong third party and not just the third political force. That is for Potami to be the party that will regulate the developments on the day after the elections and the party that will ensure that no catastrophe will happen in Greece.

What role will the party play after the elections?

It will play a unifying role. We aim to establish social unions, to unite the Greeks. Currently it is not moral for a party to believe that it will be able to provide solutions to the problems of Greece by winning 30, 33 or 35 percent of the vote. Its problems are great and it needs large social majorities.

What are the conditions for the conclusion of these unions set by you?

They are many but the main ones are the European future of Greece, the welfare state, the private economy and justice. These are the four categorical conditions that we have presented in detail to the Greek people.

Stavros Theodorakis with the article’s author Anastasia Balezdrova

During the discussion Theodorakis explained that he was ready to participate in a televised debate with the leaders of other parties and reiterated the basic principles of his party. "Taxes cannot be simply cancelled. However, there surely were mistakes in the application of the property tax and it should change," he said.

Potami priorities are the fight against tax evasion, facilitating workers and pensioners with one source of income in their contacts with the tax authorities, strengthening institutional independence of the government, tackling unemployment with investments.

"I do not believe in the state economy. No serious left-winged politician in Europe believes in it, except for the Greek left," said Stavros Theodorakis, adding that Europe has to change its policy towards the European south that has been seriously affected by the economic crisis.
 
"The European Central Bank should increase several times its funding for the south countries, a policy that goes beyond the budget cuts is necessary too. Funds are needed to generate economic growth." At the same time, Theodorakis stressed that Greece itself must demonstrate before its European partners that every euro granted to it is properly utilized.

 
"We urge wealthy Greeks to return their money to the country. To sign a "patriotic agreement" with them under which they will be subject to certain taxes over the following 10 years. And in order for them to be sure that the money they give will not sink into someone's pockets, we suggest that it be used only for improving the education system through the establishment of new, model schools. This has been applied in other countries and has produced results."

Potami does not share the idea of a write-off of the Greek debt but is of the opinion that the deadline for its repayment should be extended. Meanwhile, Greece must be given a certain time during which it will not have to pay its loan, while its economy recovers.

"We should not overlook the fact that a discussion about the adoption of a decision on its high debt is currently underway in Europe. It is taking place within all European Union bodies and, at some point, they will decide on the settlement of the high debts of the member states. Therefore, we insist that Greece does not need unilateral actions and must continue to be part of the euro area and the EU," said Theodorakis.

In conclusion, he stressed that Potami will participate in a coalition government only on condition that it guarantees Greece's place in Europe.