Strong backlash triggered a televised statement to voters of New Democracy, with Maria Syregela responding strongly on the show.
In a climate of intense political confrontation that unfolded on a television panel discussing the issue of accuracy and the social impact of price hikes, a new clash following a statement attributed to a “schadenfreude-filled” attitude among New Democracy voters. This remark immediately ignited the debate, with Maria Syregela intervening in a heated tone, categorically rejecting the characterization and speaking out against divisive rhetoric that targets citizens based on their political choice. The confrontation escalated on air, with both sides standing their ground and the panel turning into a battleground of intense political conflict.
A heated political confrontation was sparked by the statements of Haris Athanasiadis, a senior official with the Hellenic Police (ELAS), during a televised debate on OPEN, when he described New Democracy voters as gloating, prompting an immediate and strong reaction from New Democracy MP, Maria Syregela.
The starting point was the issue of inflation
The discussion began with the issue of inflation, price hikes on basic goods, and the reduced purchasing power of households.
During the debate, Haris Athanasiadis argued that the percentage of citizens who continue to express in polls their intention to vote for New Democracy constitutes the segment of society that “benefits” from government policies.
His statement provoked an immediate reaction from Ms. Syregela when he remarked: “The 25% who continue to say in polls that they will vote for New Democracy are the ones who are winning. And not only do they win, they gloat over the others who are losing and struggling to make ends meet.”
The New Democracy MP called the statement unacceptable, responding: “Is it possible to say that those who vote for New Democracy gloat over the others? You were supposed to have rebranded—is it the same old story again? More division?”
At the same time, she noted that it is “unthinkable for a party official seeking to enter Parliament to describe the ruling party’s voters as gloating,” and requested clarification on the content of the statement, with Mr. Athanasiadis standing by his initial position without retracting it.
