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23 Σεπτεμβρίου 2013
Δημοσίευση00:01

Center-left coalition due for October launch

A new movement, which seeks to act as a coalition for all Greece’s center-left parties and groups, is expected to be launched in October with the aim of taking part in May’s European Parliament elections, Kathimerini understands.

Δημοσίευση 00:01’
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A new movement, which seeks to act as a coalition for all Greece’s center-left parties and groups, is expected to be launched in October with the aim of taking part in May’s European Parliament elections, Kathimerini understands.

A new movement, which seeks to act as a coalition for all Greece’s center-left parties and groups, is expected to be launched in October with the aim of taking part in May’s European Parliament elections, Kathimerini understands.

Sources said that Kyriakos Pierrakakis, a member of PASOK’s political council, and Nikos Bistis, once of PASOK but now a member of Democratic Left, have been drafting a founding statement for the movement, which is expected to be called Elia (Olive Tree).

It is still not certain that PASOK and Democratic Left will agree to join the coalition. PASOK will have to put the decision to its central political committee and Democratic Left (DIMAR) has so far shown reluctance to take part.

Nevertheless, speaking at DIMAR’s central committee meeting on Saturday, party leader Fotis Kouvelis stressed the need for a “third pole” in Greek politics.

“The dominant narrative of faithful obedience to the [EU-IMF] memorandum that New Democracy and PASOK have adhered to has proved to be an ineffective method for exiting the crisis,» he said.

According to Kouvelis, a new “progressive” movement must be created to provide voters who also are not convinced by SYRIZA with an alternative.

“This would be based on a convergence of policies among the powers taking part,” he said. “It will rank clearly the issues and their solutions. It will give answers on how Greece can overcome the crisis.”