The former general secretary of the Samaras government, Panagiotis Baltakos, announced that the party he will soon form will be called “Rizes”, Greek for “roots”.
Mr. Baltakos told Star Channel that he would form the party with the Armed Forces, the Police and the Church. He also said that Christos Zois and Vasilis Kapernaros have agreed with this move. When asked about his relationship with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Mr. Baltakos responded that “we understand each other and there is no need for anything else”.
Mr. Baltakos, who was one of Mr. Samaras’ closest aides, was forced to resign from his post after videos surfaced revealing secret conversations with members of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, where he spoke disparagingly about the PM and suggested that the criminal investigation against the neo-Nazi party was politically instigated.
Following his dismissal from the coalition government there has been speculation over his future moves. Mr. Baltakos has hinted towards the creation of a party that would attract voters from the far right.
