EnetEnglish.gr, 21:16 Wednesday 26 February 2014
Another political party springs to life
Stavros Theodorakis says River will contest the European elections
Journalist Stavros Theodorakis says River wants a smaller parliament, less bureaucracy, a faster justice system, the promotion of culture and tourism and for migrants to have the right to vote in local elections
Stavros Theodorakis (Photo: ANA)
A well-known journalist and documentary maker has launched a new party, called Potami (River), to contest May's elections to the European Parliament.
Announcing that he would not be an election candidate for the organisation himself, Stavros Theodorakis said that among the party's aims are a smaller parliament, reducing bureaucracy, a faster justice system, the promotion of culture and tourism and for immigrants to have the right to vote in local elections.
River's economic policy was summed up by three words: soil, sun and sea, he explained. "The soil, the sun and the sea will save Greece. We just need to take the decision to invest dynamically and intelligently in them. In agriculture and livestock breading (the soil), energy, health and happiness (the sun) and fishing and tourism (the sea)."
As regards the country's debt, Theodorakis claimed that "the survival of a country cannot depend on the kindness of its creditors. The point is what you do for your country and not the discounts that the creditors might offer".
The new party, he added, was an answer to those who ask "what can we do" in today's society and was made up of people from various walks of life, with no involvement in politics or associated with the government or state agencies.
"We are a team with brains and power; the power of reason and justice," he said.
The party, he hoped, would be funded along the lines of Obama's election campaigns and he invited people who supported its aims to donate anything from €1-10 via the party's website.
Until the election, Theodorakis, who was born in 1963, confirmed he would take leave from his weekly Protagonistes (Protagonists) current affairs programme on Mega television and would take a backseat role in the Protagon.gr website, in which he is also involved.