Greek Former PM Tsipras Meets Leftist Leaders at Lula’s Inauguaration

Greek main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras, who has been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the new President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, had a series of brief meetings and conversations with heads of state during his visit, party sources said on Monday.

Among others, Tsipras met with the President of Argentina, Alberto Ángel Fernández, congratulating him on the Argentinian national team’s victory in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar and discussing the reception that Tsipras had given to Cristina Kirchner when he was prime minister of Greece.

Fernandez wished Tsipras good luck in the next general elections, and Tsipras replied with a wish for a prosperous course for the Argentinian people.

According to the same sources, “German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had a cordial discussion with Tsipras on the situation in Germany and in Europe and the unprecedented challenges facing the political leadership of the most powerful economy in the Eurozone with respect to the energy crisis, [and] its repercussions on the figures for economic growth and employment.”

Tsipras meets Lagos and Morales at Lula’s inauguration

Tsipras sat in the first row of the guests who were former heads of state and government next to the former president of Chile, Ricardo Lagos, and the former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales.

Lagos revealed to Tsipras that the battle that Greece fought during his term with the European economic establishment was closely watched by the progressive forces of Latin America. He also asked to be informed about the current situation in Greece.

Tsipras had a long and cordial meeting with former President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, who referred to his trip to Greece, during which he was really excited by Greece’s cultural heritage. He also asked to be briefed on the political situation in Greece and expressed his desire to visit Greece in order to assist SYRIZA-PA in the upcoming elections.

The main opposition leader additionally had a very warm discussion with Alternate Foreign Minister of Cuba, Josefina Vidal, who remembered Tsipras’ attendance, as Greece’s prime minister, at the funeral of Fidel Castro in Havana, saying: “We love you very much in Cuba and remember your speech, how passionately you spoke and your visit remain engraved in our memory”.

On Saturday, Tsipras, met Lula in Brasilia. The two men discussed the governmental experience of the left and progressive forces in Greece and Brazil.

They agreed that today’s struggle for democracy and tackling inequalities against the right and far-right is as important as the struggle of the previous decades to defend society from austerity policies and neoliberal globalization.

Tsipras tweeted: ”Lula is back. This time he will not only fight to fight inequalities but also to defend the Republic and unite his country. Because Bolsonaro was defeated but Bolsonarism is still here, as he characteristically told me in our meeting.”