Statement by Socrates Famellos, President of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance
Beyond the glamorous communications package, the developments in energy are alarming. On one hand, the blind servicing of the interests of Trump and Netanyahu by Mr Mitsotakis and on the other the elevation of mining as a priority with the government’s support for the fossil‑fuel cartel.
Mr Mitsotakis repeated today the false grandiose talk about green energy and renewables, so as to hide that we are Europe champions in electricity price increases while the energy companies are earning billions in excess profits.
If things are going so well with renewables, why are we throwing green energy into the trash? Why are there no storage infrastructures and why are energy communities, the projects of municipalities, farmers and self‑production of Greek manufacturing left outside connection and licensing? Perhaps so as to also serve oligopolies and foreign interests there, giving the electric space as was done in the unjust and violent transition of Western Macedonia? Without a strategy of active foreign policy and with a wrong energy strategy, the country’s interests are not being served.
On the contrary, they are retreating. The country is committed to imported energy resources, the fossil‑fuel and energy cartels are having a party and serious questions are arising about the terms and the disposal of public‑property assets of the Greek State.
Greece’s gas infrastructures — as well as the LNG project of Alexandroupoli and the vertical connection with Bulgaria — advanced and were strengthened under the SYRIZA government, aiming at the security of energy supply and diversification of supply sources. Not for the one‑dimensional shirking and servicing of American interests.
Amid his own dead‑ends, Mr Mitsotakis is looking for a lifeline of communications rescue. And to find it, he chose to act as a servant of the economic and geopolitical interests of the USA and LNG, mortgaging the country’s energy security.
Meanwhile, we are still waiting for answers about the termination of the electricity interconnection project with Cyprus.
