Sources in the ranks of New Left say that the party is satisfied with the latest initiatives taken by the party, which refute in practice – as they note from Patision – the crisis scenarios of the previous period.

In particular, the same sources report that there is a very positive climate for the joint initiative of the parties to put pressure on the government over the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The filing of a topical question by Alexis Charitsis on the government’s stance at the UN Security Council, his meeting with the Palestinian ambassador, the party’s dynamic presence at the solidarity rally in front of the Parliament all reveal the high priority of the issue on the agenda of the New Left, according to Patision.

Moreover, as its officials point out, the final text of the four opposition parties included the proposals submitted by Alexis Haritsis for the immediate cessation of military cooperation with Israel and pressure for sanctions as long as it does not comply with the decisions of international organizations. “It is regrettable that PASOK refused to co-sign this statement, while SYRIZA’s vacillations – as expressed by Kostas Zachariadis and others – underline the lack of militancy and clarity for which the New Left accuses SYRIZA on issues such as military armaments and the country’s position in international developments.”

Appointment with Famello and Konstantopoulou

Similarly positive is the assessment of the party’s stance on the probe into the Tempi crime. The stance of the New Left has been clear: coordination of all parties positioned in the left-wing and progressive opposition is required for a common proposal. And in this context, according to sources in Patision, Alexis Haritsis took the initiative to contact the political leaders of PASOK, SYRIZA, KKE, and Plevsi Eleftherias. He had meetings with Socrates Famellos and Zoe Konstantopoulou. At the same time, the New Left Parliamentary Group was in constant dialogue with leading legal experts to draft its proposal.

The goal of the New Left is to submit a proposal that will establish criminal offences to the degree of a felony and lead to a preliminary investigation that will bring to justice those who bear responsibility for the crime of Tempi and its cover-up, it is stressed.

As New Left MPs with experience in issues of a similar nature observe, “we must not allow Mr Mitsotakis to appear as a victim, while he is the perpetrator in the case of the cover-up.” And in this context, they point out that the pre-trial investigation has judicial/investigative powers. It does not seek political responsibility, nor does it force the political persons indicted to “apologize”. Putting Mitsotakis in the frame with an unstable legal basis is almost a gift for him: it offers him an escape route, as New Democracy has the required majority in Parliament to reject the proposal as “manifestly unfounded” and thus “exonerate” him in advance, they add.

At the same time, the New Left has spoken of the need for an unhindered and in-depth investigation into the responsibilities for the Tempi tragedy itself, as well as its subsequent cover-up, to bring to justice all those responsible, no matter how high up they are. Even if criminal responsibility, because the policy is a given and undeniable, falls on the Prime Minister himself. Today, however, the case file does not contain strong evidence of criminal responsibility for Mr Mitsotakis. Precisely because the cover-up has many episodes. Because the investigation has faced obstacles and political interference, we do not get to the truth, they observe.

This makes the need for political change all the more urgent, for a new Parliament that will have the ability to seamlessly seek and assign criminal responsibility for the Tempi crime, no matter who it involves – even the Prime Minister. “To bring down the Mitsotakis regime,” observes a top party official, “we need to build a combative, informed and programmatic opposition. Otherwise we will show that the lessons learned have not been learned.”

Looking forward to SYRIZA

As for the final decisions of the New Left, the Parliamentary Group is awaiting the final, written, proposal from SYRIZA to determine its stance. Unanimously at its last meeting, it defined its own “red lines” with the main axis being the full investigation and delivery of justice, a demand that unites Greek society against the right-wing regime.