Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis, in a social media post on Monday from New York, expressed his gratitude to the thousands of members and friends of the party that voted in the election to select the party’s candidates in the upcoming European Parliament elections on June 9.
“In New York, at the big parade for the anniversary of 25th March, which each year is a major event for the Diaspora. Together with thousands of other Greeks abroad. Those who make us proud, keeping the Greek flag high, away from their country,” Kasselakis said.
Στη Νέα Υόρκη ο Στέφανος Κασσελάκης pic.twitter.com/gaVczPkMmu
— iEidiseis.gr (@iEidiseisGR) April 14, 2024
“Those with whom we will work so that they and their children can return to Greece, not as ‘imported’ but as equal Greeks,” he added.
“From New York, I would like to send a big ‘thank you’ to the more than 63,000 members and friends of SYRIZA that participated yesterday in an unprecedented process for the Greek political system, in which they themselves shaped our party’s Euroballot with their vote.
“I confess that I had not expected so massive a participation but I had hoped for it. I thank you for being here so that we can change the future together. Because we deserve a better life,” he said.
The 35 candidates on SYRIZA-PA’s European elections ballot will be unveiled on Monday.
In February Kasselakis announced that the party members and friends will nominate the candidates for the election through a vote. It would be a “small revolution” for SYRIZA, “because the candidate MEPs will be decided by society and not by the closed party offices,” he said at the time.
He said that this process allowed anyone who so desires to become “part of the great battle of European Progress against European conservatism”.
SYRIZA’s Kasselakis promises to stand for Greeks abroad
Earlier, Kasselakis spoke at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York, where he was attending celebrations by the Greek-American community to mark the March 25th Greek Independence Day holiday.
The Orthodox Christian Leader of Greece’s progressive coalition party, Stefanos Kasselakis @skasselakis, declaring the Symbol of Faith today at the National Cathedral in New York City today. Axios! pic.twitter.com/5nKBE2mqcx
— Aristomenis Papadimitriou (@arist0men1s) April 15, 2024
“This holiday of the Revolution reminds all of us in public life exactly why we are fighting. We are fighting to honour the struggles of those who bring us freedom,” Kasselakis said.
He promised that the main opposition party will stand at the side of Greeks abroad, so they felt equal and emphasized the importance of the Cyprus issue, which he said was “at the heart of Hellenism.”
SYRIZA has a “clear position” on the Cyprus issue, he added, believing that it must be a “key pillar in Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkish relations”.
“We might today be celebrating the first steps that gave peace, love and pride to Greece but at the same time a fire is raging in the Middle East, with civilians losing their lives and no end in sight,” he added, expressing hopes for peace in the world, peace in the Middle East and an immediate ceasefire.
Related: European Elections Could Transform Greek Politics
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