The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis, visited the 96th Higher National Guard Battalions Command on Chios and he participated in a meeting with the local authorities about the immigrants’ issue at Chios’ City Hall. He also visited outposts on Farmakonisi and Kalolimnos.

Afterwards, he visited the 80th Higher National Guard Battalions Command on Kos and also attended a meeting with local authorities about the immigrants’ issue, held at Kos’ City Hall.

While addressing journalists in Chios, among others he stated the following:

JOURNALIST:  Mr. Minister, will you cooperate with SYRIZA party in the next government? Mr. Meimarakis said that you will likely not enter the parliament after the elections.

P.KAMMENOS: The point is that it is not only Mr. Meimarakis who will vote, it is the Greek people who will vote. In the elections, in a democracy, it is the people who decide. We spent the last months participating in a government of which we are proud. We acted as we had promised to the Greek people. As it was necessary, we implemented our suggestions in National Defence matters, in national matters, in matters of religion, we voted against bills which would cross our “red lines”.

I believe that we have had an excellent cooperation with the government and we fulfilled our commitment to the Greek people, that is to interfere whenever it is needed. Do you remember the rumors about the abolition of parades? Parades were increased. They were also attended by the Prime Minister.

There was also a rumor about the abolition of religious symbols. This never happened. The INDEPENDENT HELLENES did what they were committed to do and yet in an excellent cooperation with Alexis Tsipras’ government. We state clearly that we will participate in the elections individually. We want an individual mandate from the people. However, in the next day, we will be very glad to cooperate again, as we already discussed with the Prime Minister, if the Greek people want it too.

As far as Mr. Meimarakis is concerned, I wish him good luck in his new duties as leader of the New Democracy party. That said, it is up to the Greek people to decide whom they want in the government. This is what elections are about, approval of people’s mandate according to the provisions of the Constitution.

I will not predict who seems to winning or losing. As for us, they usually predict we will be out of parliament and when they do this forecast we enter the parliament with a more increased percentage. It is up to Greek women and men to decide.

JOURNALIST: Does the Constitution provide for election every six months?

P.KAMMENOS: When the parliamentary majority has been lost, you realize that it is very difficult for a minority government to continue to exist. I wish there was no lack of MPs’ support to the government’s majority and there were no need for an election. I hope that the election will be held soon. I am sure that it will be conducted according to all procedures provided for by the Constitution and what the INDEPENDENT HELLENES will seek for is for the election to be conducted according to the democratic rules. We will not answer to challenges, nor will we respond to an effort to create political tension, nor to personal accusations. We have a clear ideological opinion. Our participation in the government, through Ms. Kountoura’s assignment in tourism, my assignment in the National Defence, Mr. Sgouridis’ assignment in Agricultural Development, Mr. Kouik’s assignment in the coordination of the government and Ms. Kollia’s assignment in the Ministry of Macedonia- Thrace, as well as with Mr. Giannelis’ assignment in the General Secretariat for Aegean Sea and Island Policy, showed that policies we proposed to the Greek people were in this direction. And this is what we will continue doing with politeness, prudence and without any personal attacks to anyone.

JOURNALIST: Would you accept to be a third party in a coalition government?

P.KAMMENOS: Considering the existing parties, I do not believe that there is a prospect for such cooperation, but it is the Greek people who will decide it with the votes they will give to anyone of us.  For example, I think that would not be able to cooperate with most of the existent parties. New formation may be created and then we will reconsider this matter. It would not be possible for us to cooperate with the Golden Dawn; it would not be possible to cooperate with Greece’s Communist Party and its views. It would not be able for us to cooperate with the New Democracy as long as it keeps the former members of Popular Orthodox Rally with their far right views at the front line. As for PASOK, which is always forgiven for the scandals it committed, in defence with the submarines, with the procurements that are examined by the Public Prosecution and which asks for forgiveness of its scandals in order to participate in a coalition, it would be impossible to cooperate. It is the same for the New Democracy too, which has turned into a defence lawyer of PASOK.

For the moment, Mr. Lafazanis is the person who made this government resign. If he forms a party, I still cannot find a reason for which we would cooperate, since he would be able by remaining in the government and supporting Alexis Tsipras, with whose party he was elected, to keep this government that would be able to assume this entire work. About all this, of course, it is the Greek people who will decide.

JOURNALIST: Is there a possibility to cooperate with Potami (the River) party?

P.KAMMENOS: Potami (the River) has to show where it ends, where it flows to. With the course it has now, we cannot follow it.