Shades of a political “comeback” were in the air over central Athens on Wednesday evening with the unveiling of a book by former prime minister Alexis Tsipras with his address at a well-attended and heavily covered event.
Tsipras, the leftist prime minister from 2015 to 2019, who subsequently lost twice – and convincingly – to incumbent Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the latter’s conservative New Democracy (ND), declared himself “proud” for his coalition government, while lobbing criticism at the current government but also at the SYRIZA party he once led. After including main opposition PASOK, he charged that their “… concern is who will be first in the village,” while declaring himself “proud and unrepentant.”
“Yes, that’s the right word, proud; proud of the determination, honesty, and selflessness of our journey. Proud because we, the inexperienced, who had no connections and no one to support us, succeeded where the professionals in power failed. Proud because we finally reached Ithaca,” he said characteristically.
Months after resigning his deputy’s seat in parliament, Tsipras went on to add his memoirs, entitled “Ithaca”, is not a book of self-congratulation or self-affirmation, but “honest criticism and self-criticism at my journey, our journey. The journey of the Left and of the country. A critical look at the right and wrong decisions, the victories and defeats, the ups and downs, our responsibilities and decisions.”
The first edition of Tsipras’ book has reportedly sold out, selling more than 39,000 copies.
Hinting at a new party
Tsipras also spoke of the need for “a new political transition” and a new “political big bang” that will bring citizens closer to politics again, speaking before an audience at a large downtown theater that included many of his former political associates and allies.
Source: tovima.com
