Maria Karystianou is moving on today to the next steps for organizing and staffing her new party, following yesterday’s “premiere” in Thessaloniki, which in terms of attendance fell short of the organizers’ expectations.

“Hope for Democracy” — the name of the new party — is accompanied by the leader’s name and the clarification that it is an Independent Citizens’ Movement, which its founders aim to establish as a strong presence from the very first opinion polls.

Karystianou’s team expressed satisfaction with yesterday’s first official appearance on the political scene, while today they are organizing the submission to the Supreme Court of the founding declaration, the party’s name and symbols.

A dove and olive branches symbolically dominated yesterday’s backdrop at the Olympion in Aristotelous Square, where Maria Karystianou welcomed the first groups of supporters from Thessaloniki and surrounding areas of northern Greece. Attendance at the event did not exceed 850 people, while organizers had expected around 2,000, according to estimates made in previous days.

The event began with approximately a one-hour delay, featuring greetings from members of the Greek diaspora through prerecorded messages, which attendees could also watch outside the Olympion on giant screens that had been installed there.

A strong “anti-memorandum” atmosphere emerged from the messages and imagery presented, along with “anti-establishment” references, commitments such as “zero tolerance for corruption” and “cleansing,” while the declaration’s framework addressed issues concerning all citizens and usually forming the “social agenda” of a political party.

Journalist Thanasis Avgerinos opened the event, setting the tone with a reference to “Crime and Punishment” and the message that “those who committed crimes… their punishment is approaching.” He also felt the need to explain the figures printed on his black T-shirt — the three great classics of world literature: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov.

Katerina Moutsatsou at Karystianou’s side

The much-anticipated “surprise” presentation of the evening turned out to be actress Katerina Moutsatsou, who had gone viral years ago with her famous “I am hellene” video and later reappeared in public life as a candidate for the European Parliament with EPAM.

Moutsatsou declared her support for the new political initiative, while also speaking about the economic crisis and the need for “clean people” in public life.

The event program also included prerecorded messages from farmers from various regions of the country and young people forming the party’s youth wing, as well as interventions from experts and technical consultants associated with the Tempi train disaster case.

The collection of signatures under the founding declaration had started early in Aristotelous Square, effectively revealing the name and symbol of the new initiative, while the party statute included several priorities for the next day, at least regarding the “roadmap” and operation of the party.

There were countless “images” from the premiere. Karystianou, in a positive mood and with a combative profile, chose to wear a white shirt embroidered with a black rose — symbolizing both unjust death and rebirth, indirectly referring to the Tempi tragedy and the loss of her child.

For her, “Hope” is a “spontaneous social initiative against opacity and corruption” and “a response to the overall degradation of economic and political life.” One of the event’s key messages referred to the struggle for justice after the Tempi railway tragedy, focusing on “preventing any cover-up.”

In her speech, Karystianou stressed that the main goal is change, combating corruption and implementing policies that reach citizens, support families and especially young people, address the demographic crisis, support the elderly, strengthen the National Health System and public education, and provide protection for vulnerable groups and small and medium-sized businesses.

The people involved, the next meeting in Athens and tours “everywhere”

Soon Maria Karystianou will attempt to give the party structure and establish the first-line figures — the people who will also appear on the party’s electoral lists.

According to her associates, the goal is to organize the next major gathering in Athens, in one of its “neighborhoods.” In fact, the party’s headquarters are also being sought in a neighborhood within the Municipality of Athens, where both Karystianou’s team and supporter-volunteers will be hosted.

Yesterday, however, a diverse crowd of figures attended the presentation of the founding declaration of Maria Karystianou’s party at the Olympion in Thessaloniki. Among them were former “Niki” parliamentary candidate in Thessaloniki A constituency Giorgos Syrpis, a psychiatrist; former Central Macedonia regional governor and former minister under New Democracy governments Panagiotis Psomiadis, who went outside the Olympion, made a statement of support and left; and of course journalist Thanasis Avgerinos, who was the first to take the stage.

Among those present were international relations analyst Stavros Kalenteridis, son of Savvas Kalenteridis; Maria Negreponti-Delivanis; Vasilis Kokotsakis, who had drafted the report on the Tempi disaster; fashion designer Erotokritos Kymionis; lawyer Maria Gratsia; and lawyer Giannis Chatziantoniou.

Also attending the presentation of the founding declaration were Spyros Christofilos, son of former Supreme Court president Vasiliki Thanou; Vasilis Fouskas, professor of international relations at the School of Law and Economics of the University of East London; and Stratos Siourdakis, president of the Greek Community in Saint Petersburg.

Actress Katerina Moutsatsou took the stage during the presentation of the Founding Declaration, while Charita Mantoles — an iconic figure in Cyprus who lost members of her family during the 1974 Turkish invasion — sent a video message of support.

Also present at the premiere was Nikos Galanos, one of Karystianou’s key associates with a left-wing background (he had served as an MP for Synaspismos and PASOK in Piraeus B), along with several local government officials from surrounding areas and farmers.