The leader of DIMAR Fotis Kouvelis appeared on SKAI on Tuesday morning and argued that he would be open to forming an alliance with main opposition party SYRIZA, should their proposals become “more realistic”.
Mr. Kouvelis noted that SYRIZA president Alexis Tsipras’ points in his recent speech at the International Fair in Thessaloniki indicate “an effort to adopt a more realistic stance”, but argued that significant differences still separated the two parties.
Regarding the rumors of being a candidate in the upcoming Presidential elections in Parliament, the DIMAR leader argued that he is “not interested” in the prospect and has not been approached for the matter. Mr. Kouvelis was also uncertain as to whether the Samaras-Venizelos government could amass the necessary 180 MP votes to elect a President and avoid early elections.
Regarding the stance his party MPs will adopt in the upcoming Presidential election, Mr. Kouvelis revealed that “3 to 4 have said they will not vote for a President, regardless of the candidates” and that the rest will vote according to the government’s policies.
As for the recent troubles that have plagued his party, including the departure of key officers, Mr. Kouvelis stressed that he would like to be a candidate for the party’s leadership in the upcoming party conference. Mr. Kouvelis also argued that Stavros Theodorakis’ River party is not encroaching on DIMAR’ political space and that “simply saying ‘I am a new party’ is not politics”.
