Maria Karystianou spoke about the identity, ideology, and priorities of the new party in a television interview on Open. Ms. Karystianou was also asked about the issue of abortions, saying that society itself should decide what should be done.

“Because I respect free will and it is constitutionally protected, I believe this is a matter for public consultation; let society decide what it would like to happen. There is a particular complexity to the issue, because it concerns the rights of the woman, but also of the embryo. Because I am also a pediatrician, due to my science, I am torn as to which rights should prevail; I cannot rank them,” she initially said, adding: “A woman can decide about her body, but the issue is that in the case of abortions there is also another moral issue that, for me, is very important. The issue is not what I believe or what you believe; that is why I speak of public consultation—it is more democratic, because we are talking about a life that is now being born.”

When asked whether she is, in principle, against abortions, she said characteristically: “My science has placed me in a position of caring for a life that has been created, while at the same time understanding the issue of a woman and whether she wants to have children. From the moment that at three months the child’s heart is beating, it is considered a life that has been born. Even after a few weeks, when children are born prematurely, even by cesarean section for various reasons, they survive. I know that abortions have been legalized, but I am speaking about the moral issue. Issues that can concern how our society functions should be resolved through public consultation.”

Referring to the party she is preparing to found and its ideology, she said: “The Citizens’ Movement is being organized, and I have been moved because over the last weekend we received more than 250 emails from people who want to contribute. This shows the great desire people have for something new, clean, and hopeful to be created. I would not want to have labels, because I speak with people who belong to all parties and all ideologies. These belong to the old. I have seen politicians themselves violate their own ideologies. I want to move away from labels. Everything is included, except for the extreme ends.”

“In the three years that the public has come to know me, and knowing that there is no justice, we are not just shouting, we are not just protesting; we truly want actions to be taken. For us citizens, this is what matters. I cannot imagine my life functioning without rules of law. Should we talk about Trump? Of course we should talk about Trump. But should we talk about the fact that there is no rule of law in Greece? Should we talk about Article 86 that protects politicians from impunity? We do not want to be a protest party,” she said when asked about her intentions.

“When we need money, it will be done in a clear and democratic way,” she said at another point.

As for whether she wants to play a role in governing the country, she replied: “Of course. How else will change come about? The ambition is for society to find representatives in Parliament. I don’t know whether I will govern myself, because I don’t know whether I will be the leader. I want the Movement to govern. I want to see citizens in Parliament producing work.”