Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Evangelos Meimarakis reacted bitterly to the announcement of snap elections by PM Alexis Tsipras earlier in the evening on Thursday.
Meimarakis, a veteran conservative lawmaker that held several ministerial posts and served as Parliament president, was particularly caustic in his remarks of the 41-year-old radical leftist leader, Alexis Tsipras.
“The lad must come to his senses. He’s gone awry. He’s pointing his finger at us… He’s a sly one, always with a smile (on his face) … Greece doesn’t deserve such a prime minister.”
In a lengthy press briefing after Tsipras’ announcement, Meimarakis didn’t let up, asking: “Why is he going to elections? Did the sun get to him? It’s August, no less.”
Highlights of Meimarakis’ televised address and subsequent question and answer session with reporters:
“We believe that we’ll come in first; battles are given by true leaders, not those so boggled down that they must return the mandate.”
“The announcement for snap elections did not surprise us.”
— He referred to “political hooliganism”, saying PM Alexis Tsipras “was the one who said he’ll rip up the memorandums”.
— “We’re ready. Our ballots are ready. We’re ready for the election battle”.
— “Elections are the last solution, not the first,” he said, adding that he will receive the president’s exploratory mandate to form a government.
— He’ll ask to meet with the other pro-Europe opposition leaders, PASOK’s Gennimata and Potami’s Theodorakis.
— Meimarakis also left open the prospect of meeting with far-left political leader Lafazanis, Tsipras’ rightist coalition partner, Panos Kammenos, and even extreme-rightwing Golden Dawn leader Nikos Mihaloliakos, something over which ND’s internal committees will decide.
— “Things are very, very serious, we’re not playing; we’ve played enough; for seven months he’s (Tsipras) sunk the country”.
— “He (Tsipras) will not impose the date of elections. What kind of arrogance is this? Mr. Tsipras is essentially escaping; he’s trying to flee from problems… the specter of Lafazanis is chasing him; he has tremendous guilt”.
