“Many times I hear from some of our dissatisfied fellow citizens saying, ‘send a message.’ I will pick up the gauntlet and say: send a message of stability in the elections.” With this phrase yesterday, after presenting the 42 candidates of New Democracy for the European elections, Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the stakes of the ballot on June 9th. A stake that, according to him, becomes even more urgent in turbulent times with uncertainties in our neighborhood, as evidenced by the new flare-up in the Middle East.
It is not a secret, however, that yesterday’s presentation of the blue European ballot at the Athens Concert Hall had a central figure absent: the imprisoned in the Fier prison, Fredi Beleris, the elected mayor of Himara. Mr. Mitsotakis’ decision to include him in the euro-list was a move of crucial importance, which on the one hand produces a high symbolism, and on the other hand provides an option for expression to a more “traditional” and right-wing audience within the ranks of the governing party. It is obvious, therefore, that this move aims politically to rally party forces and to stop leaks towards the right of New Democracy.
Who “turned” the game
The case of Beleris was not simple for the Maximos Mansion, given the delicate balances with Albania. However, both the political symbolism and the party necessity brought some of the Prime Minister’s associates to “step up” their efforts in the last few days, in a peculiar power game with the proponents of Beleris’ exception from the electoral list.
The scenes that unfolded yesterday outside the Athens Concert Hall were indicative. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis warmly embraced Prime Ministerial advisor on party matters, Thanasis Nezi. Immediately after, Makis Voridis had a “chitchat” with relatives of Mr. Beleris and representatives of the indigenous ethnic Greek minority in Himara in northern Epirus in the south of Albania. They were also the ones who welcomed Petros Beleris, son of Fredi, on Saturday morning at the Maximos Mansion in a rather “emotionally charged” meeting. And it was they who particularly insisted on the need for Mr. Beleris to be included in the ballot, something that took shape on Sunday night after the meeting of KYSEA, when Mr. Beleris’ son received the confirming phone call from the Maximos Mansion and the subsequent invitation to Monday’s event.
Beleris: His candidacy in the Euro ballot was announced – His first statements
“A turn to the right”
The atmosphere in the hall of the Concert Hall at the time of the announcement of Mr. Beleris’ name by Aristotelis Pelonis was indicative. Everyone stood up, in a standing ovation for the absent at the event, while slogans in favor of Mr. Beleris were heard, who expressed himself through a recorded statement from prison. And Pyrros Dimas, however, a fellow citizen of Mr. Beleris from Himara, said in his greeting addressing his son, “My Petros, your father will be vindicated”.
For those familiar with the human geography of New Democracy, it is clear that Mr. Beleris will receive pre-election support from many quarters and has become one of the favorites in the ballot. The posts of blue MPs, such as Thanos Plevris or Angelos Syrigos, in favor of Mr. Beleris, are indicative, reflecting the sentiment of a large part of the ND base.
