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The conflict between the Liberals from New Democracy and the representatives of the national patriotic rightist party reached its culmination led by Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Failos Kranidiotis. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis also took part in the battle. He sided with the first and sharply criticized the latter.

It appears that the conflict will be ruthless and the air now smells like gunpowder, as they represent two very different schools with greater influences in New Democracy. Conflict continues and it is the continuation of an inner confrontation between the group of “the five” liberals in New Democracy – Myriakos Mitsotakis, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Aris Spiliotopoulos, Costas Hadzidakis and Evangelos Andonaros, who were “for” the creation of a coalition government, and the supporters of the solid right people’s party, who were “against” it.

Siding with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis defines the position of the group of the liberals who seem determined not to allow representatives of the national patriotic rightist party to impose their views.

Direct attack by Kyriakos Mitsotakis against Failos Kranidiotis

As a response to the attacks by Failos Kranidiotis stating that the Liberals in New Democracy are a minority. Kyriakos Mitsotakis attacked him directly with the accusation that “So far, he has been fighting for Ocalan and Arafat, but not for New Democracy.”

He also stressed that Kranidiotis cannot give advice and guidance to lawmakers elected by the people. He stressed, disagreeing with the exclusion from the party, that New Democracy had “won the independence, because it has complied with all the votes.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that there is a person without any institutional capacity that does not support the efforts of New Democracy, as it causes division rather than unity of the party.

Mitsotakis’ hints provoked tension and a lightning response followed by Kranidiotis who for quite some time has been criticizing the liberal group because of their position.

The attacks by Failos Kranidiotis against Kyriakos Mitsotakis

“Whoever seeks to have a sinless life should adopt Catholicism and become the Pope. It is true that my activities since I was 16-17 years old have not been and are still not closely related to the party”, said Failos Kranidiotis in response to the question about the statements of Mitsotakis and added that his work has been and continues to be in favour of the national policy in support of the Greeks in Northern Epirus and Cyprus, the Armenian and Kurdish movement.

“I have not conducted any protests in Kolonaki, Mykonos and Arachova, my bills are paid on time, I am aware of my market prices and I am not blessed. I have not received from his father any political gain, only his example,” Kranidiotis said.

Subsequently he made some allusions about the position of Mitsotakis and his aspirations saying: “On 9 October 2009, and for many years I voted for New Democracy and Costas Karamanlis, whom I supported before the elections. I am not sure what some others have voted and wished for.”

Split

Lively public confrontation between the two raises concerns among many lawmakers who believe that a split has been formed between the two wings in New Democracy.

On one side are the liberals who actively supported the idea of a coalition government, and on the other side are the supporters of the national patriotic party who were adamantly against it.

As soon as the loan agreement is passed, you will see that the well-known liberals from New Democracy will come out, those who had prepared their suits even before Antonis Samaras had agreed, and will say that for the benefit of Greece they support the government and will leave New Democracy”, said yesterday the already independent MP, although a member of New Democracy, Panagiotis Kamenos.

Militiadis Varvitsiotis: “I do not know him as a member of New Democracy”

Siding with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis spoke sharply against Kranidiotis.

“In any case, I do not know Mr. Kranidiotis as a member of New Democracy, I know that he once applied for the central committee of the party, but was not selected, he collected about 10-12 votes, something like that”, said Varvitsiotis.

The lawmaker from New Democracy said that in the party there are institutional authorities, members, people who have a specific role and place, either party or political, and there are some others who comment on the political reality.

“I remember Mr. Kranidiotis as a supporter of various movements and as a political functionary of a movement that I think had no results in the elections, if I am not mistaken the one of Michalis Charalambidis. Now that same person pretends to be a close friend of Antonis Samaras. How can I tell you if this is a political position…for me this is no political position,” Varvitsiotis said with unconcealed irony, adding that he does not remember Kranidiotis in any of the battles of New Democracy, which, as he said has always been a democratic, liberal, European party, an open party.