Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and newly official opposition leader Nikos Androulakis met today in the presidential palace for the first time in years.
Before conducting the majority of their meeting behind closed doors, the two men exchanged pleasantries with the cameras present, projecting an air of diplomacy and amicability.
“I am very happy that we are given the opportunity to hold this meeting in your new capacity. Let me congratulate you first and officially, as now you are also a state actor,” said Mitsotakis.
He argued that communication between opposition parties is a necessity: “Obviously it is not the job of the opposition to agree with the government, it would be very strange if that happened with great frequency, but I think we have an obligation to have an open channel of communication.”
Androulakis echoed similar notes, stating, “I think the only way to move forward is consensus, but with an honest dialogue where we will put the real facts of the challenges and see, each one from his ideological point of view, how he can contribute.”
The two men have had a contentious relationship over the past few years, more than once sparring in parliament. Androulakis has also repeatedly critiqued the New Democracy government and specifically Mitsotakis in regards to the wiretapping scandal in which he was targeted, once even telling Mitsotakis on the parliament floor that “Your arrogance leads you to self-mockery and to insulting our rule of law.”
In fact the latest lawsuit filed by Androulakis was forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court this week.
But today’s meeting seemed a step to try to cool tensions, and perhaps pave the way for some bipartisan legislation.
Speaking after the meeting to the press, Nikos Androulakis described the discussion with the Prime Minister as “productive”, stating “We have discussed inflation, national issues such as Greek-Turkish issues and the accession perspective of the Western Balkans. I put to him our firm proposals on the issue of banks and on the issue of tax on basic goods.”
Androulakis stated that the two also discussed how the country’s judiciary is selected which could require a constitutional revision.
“I think consensus is a tango that involves two,” concluded Androulakis. He positioned PASOK as a responsible, cooperative yet firm official opposition: “We will say the ‘no’ when it is needed as is owed towards public interest, and we will also say the ‘yes’ that is productive because there must be a field of consensus.”
