The candidate for the Municipality of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis appeared on SKAI TV on Tuesday morning and addressed his recent expulsion from New Democracy, after he decided to vote “present” (against his former party’s line) in a critical article in Parliament on Sunday.
Mr. Kaklamanis explained that “the illustrious article contained more important things that milk and pharmacies, I realized that after real estate taxation, my personal dignity did not allow me to back down any more”. Mr. Kaklamanis also complained that his expulsion was “illegal”, since it expulsions are conducted by a five-member ethics team and not the party president, as was the case.
Nevertheless, the independent MP remarked that “the bill was beyond my ideological tolerance” and estimated that the coalition government MPs will be faced with similar hard choices in the future, despite the claims otherwise.
When asked about the polls showing him trailing behind the New Democracy-sponsored Aris Spiliotopoulos in the race for the Mayor’s office of Athens, Mr. Kaklamanis stressed that their difference is tiny and that he appeals to a far greater range of voters, than his competitor.
