By Maria Zougra
SYRIZA MPs Euclid Tsakalotos and Yiannis Dragasakis appeared positive about the possibility of forming a government of the defeated after the May 21 elections, causing reactions inside and outside SYRIZA.
Mr. Tsakalotos declared “yes” to the government of the losers, stressing that it can be formed and that “it will depend on how close we are, one may be 150 MPs, another 151, another 153. If you have 47%, 48%, 49% and it is three parties, what losers? The N.D. she doesn’t mind ruling after the second election with 38%. Here we can have a government representing 48% and 49%. You don’t even call this defeated.” Mr. Dragasakis, for his part, argued that “the president of SYRIZA will receive the exploratory mandate from the President of the Republic and will investigate the case of forming a government. We will not remain inactive in all eventualities”, while he clarified that according to what the party president has said, SYRIZA will take the mandate and try to form a government, even if it is a second party.
These statements provoked the reaction of Government Spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou: “What exactly do they believe? First contradiction, they will seek a government of losers, they will not seek a government of losers if they are not even one vote ahead. Second, progressive governance with all who can form this net of progressive governance.”
A few hours later, the two top executives of Koumoundourou rushed to reform, after the embarrassment caused inside Koumoundourou, as Alexis Tsipras has categorically rejected the formation of a government if SYRIZA does not emerge as the first party. Mr. Tsakalotos, with a post on Facebook, argued that “an allied government with 49% would have more legitimacy than an autonomous government with 38% in the second elections. But in reality, this is neither mathematically nor politically possible if SYRIZA does not emerge as the first party. That’s why we are all fighting for this completely achievable goal”, while Mr. Dragasakis stated that it was a “theoretical, scenario discussion. I expressed an opinion. We want a large social majority with us, which also expresses a political majority. With this in mind, all these scenarios we are talking about are outside of our planning. But what if reality brings them? Then the party organs will gather, discuss and decide.”
Yannis Varoufakis also rejected the government of losers: “My hand should be cut off from my shoulder for doing something like this. We do not exist for Mr. Tsipras to become prime minister again or for anyone to become prime minister.”
