The leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, Panos Kammenos, gave a cross-network interview where he urged the Greek people to vote against the parties supporting the bailout – New Democracy, PASOK and DIMAR – in order to hold early elections and form a national unity government.
Mr. Kammenos accused the coalition government of outright lies and argued that the government must cease loan repayments to ensure that there is food for the Greek people.
When asked about his party’s goals in the election on Sunday, the ANEL leader responded that he will not be satisfied unless his party performs even better than the 2012 elections, when it received 7.5% of the vote. Mr. Kammenos added that his not as power hungry as Antonis Samaras and admitted that any potential changes to his party will take place at the upcoming ANEL conference.
The ANEL leader slammed PM Antonis Samaras and Government VP Evangelos Venizelos for praising the performance of candidates who were ignored or expelled from their parties. Mr. Kammenos claimed that Mr. Venizelos is jeopardizing Greece’s relations to Russia by supporting “the neo-Nazi government in Ukraine”.
Mr. Kammenos expressed his disappointment in the increased support that Golden Dawn received in last Sunday’s vote and explained that the neo-Nazi party was legitimized when Giorgos Papandreou and Antonis Samaras appointed Makis Voridis as a minister in the Lucas Papadimos cabinet. The ANEL leader also accused the current mayor of Athens Giorgos Kaminis of developing ties with the neo-Nazi party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, when the later was elected municipal councilor.
Regarding the European team that his MEPs will join, Mr. Kammenos revealed that he has been in talks with Nigel Farrage of the controversial far-right UKIP party, but has not come to an agreement. Mr. Kammenos also clarified that he will not support any group with Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National party.
