Course of Freedom party leader Zoe Konstantopoulou launched a personal attack on former prime minister Alexis Tsipras and PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis during an interview on Greek radio station Parapolitika 90.1.
Speaking on the station, Konstantopoulou criticized her political rivals over public appearances, economic policies and parliamentary votes, while outlining new legislative proposals and demanding criminal prosecution over the Tempi train collision.
Criticism of Alexis Tsipras
Konstantopoulou focused sharp criticism on former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who previously led the Coalition of the Radical Left, known as SYRIZA. She targeted both his public appearances abroad and his party's economic platform.
She stated that Tsipras pretends to know English and travels to the United States only to bring shame upon Greece. She also claimed that his head of finance does not understand multiplication and performed division instead. She added that the public is disgusted with established political figures, asserting that neither Tsipras nor current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will have any success in the future.
Addressing recent opinion polling that placed Tsipras second despite his relative public silence, Konstantopoulou expressed overall skepticism regarding political survey data. She predicted that current poll projections would fail, comparing the situation to past election cycles. She noted that in 2012, when commentators expected the two traditional ruling parties to secure 80 percent of the vote, she correctly maintained they would fail to reach 50 percent. She also recalled the 2015 Greek bailout referendum, stating that while others expected a victory for the yes vote, she advocated for no and estimated that the no vote would win with 60 percent, having personally desired 70 percent.
Clash with PASOK over Parliamentary Immunity
Konstantopoulou also directed strong criticism at Nikos Androulakis, the leader of the social democratic PASOK party, regarding the recent vote in the Hellenic Parliament to lift her parliamentary immunity.
She claimed that Androulakis had experienced pressure and bullying from media journalists who accused PASOK of acting as a tail to Course of Freedom after the two parties joined forces on parliamentary initiatives. She asserted that this media pressure led Androulakis to instruct PASOK lawmakers to participate in a postal vote, resulting in 91 percent of his parliamentary group voting to lift her immunity.
According to Konstantopoulou, the lawsuits against her were filed by police officers and judges under instructions from Justice Minister George Floridis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in response to her legal actions surrounding the Tempi train disaster. She described PASOK's vote as a shame and claimed Androulakis had allowed himself to become a tool of former PASOK minister Anna Diamantopoulou and former deputy prime minister Evangelos Venizelos. She claimed Diamantopoulou maintains an open line of communication with Floridis, predicting that Venizelos and Diamantopoulou would eventually throw Androulakis off the train. She added that PASOK was operating under the mistaken belief that voters desire a return to a New Democracy and PASOK duopoly, predicting that the party would suffer a heavy setback.
Public Opinion Polls and Voter Base
Konstantopoulou maintained that Course of Freedom remains unaffected by opinion polls, whether results appear favorable or unfavorable. She referenced a recent survey conducted by Metron Analysis that identified her as the most popular political leader in Greece.
She asserted that whether survey results are positive or negative, her party is not influenced by them because political opponents wish to shrink her party's standing. She described the broader political system as her true opponent.
Regarding the voters her party seeks to attract, Konstantopoulou rejected categorizing citizens into fixed political groups or traditional voter pools. She described the political landscape as highly fluid, stating that her party had liberated voters from existing political dead ends. Reaffirming her party's slogan that Course of Freedom is the solution, she stated that believing every problem has a realistic solution is genuine realism, contrasting her approach with expecting nothing while maintaining political freeloaders. She added that her active presence in Parliament continues to bother established politicians.
Demands for Prosecution over Tempi Disaster
A major portion of Konstantopoulou's interview addressed the Tempi train disaster, the February 2023 head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train near Tempe in central Greece that claimed 57 lives. She vowed to maintain her campaign surrounding the tragedy until all responsible parties face justice.
Responding to questions about Maria Karystianou, who represents families of the crash victims, as well as polling figures and suggestions that Konstantopoulou's actions had harmed the cause, she rejected any change in her stance. She stated that she does not alter her approach between parliamentary debates and courtroom proceedings. She declared that her objective from every position is to bring the case to completion and ensure that everyone responsible for killing 57 children and injuring others is sent to prison. She specifically called for former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to face imprisonment, adding that her position on the front lines of the issue has made her a target.
Konstantopoulou noted the legal case file opened against her and the parliamentary motion to strip her immunity, while asserting that a case file will eventually be opened against Mitsotakis as political changes occur. She characterized the cases involving the Tempi crash, state wiretapping scandals and OPEKEPE, Greece's agricultural subsidy payment agency, as matters involving a criminal organization. She claimed that a mafia operating within state structures has interfered with the judiciary, and suggested that a Special Court could eventually be convened to try the prime minister. She expressed confidence that citizens will support political forces committed to full cleansing and accountability.
Prime Ministerial Ambition and Role of Opposition
When asked if serving as prime minister is her personal ambition, Konstantopoulou confirmed that it is her goal. She stated that her objective is not focused on holding power for its own sake, but on accomplishing reforms that previous governments failed to deliver.
She pointed out that she previously resigned from the country's third highest state office, the presidency of the Hellenic Parliament, when other political figures misled the public. She stated that she has never sacrificed her principles and that Course of Freedom earned its place in Parliament through genuine struggle. She asserted that her party demonstrates true parliamentary opposition in contrast to what she described as fake opposition from SYRIZA and PASOK. She highlighted strong support among younger voters, claiming her party holds first place among the new generation.
Critique of KKE and Legislative Proposals
Konstantopoulou also commented on the Communist Party of Greece, known as KKE. She observed that KKE has been represented in Parliament for 52 years, arguing that the party has already demonstrated everything it has to say and do. While expressing respect for KKE voters, she criticized the party's internal mechanisms and bureaucracy, stating that politics requires active struggle and defensive action on behalf of all citizens.
She announced that Course of Freedom will submit 30 legislative proposals to Parliament starting on Monday, October 5. The proposed measures include restoring the 13th and 14th monthly salary payments for workers and the 13th and 14th annual pension payments for retirees, both of which were curtailed during economic crisis reforms. The bills also seek the recovery of public funds previously allocated to commercial banks, the legal classification of femicide as a distinct felony backed by an official tracking system, and the creation of a monthly maternity allowance of 1,000 euros for every mother until her child reaches adulthood.
Addressing questions regarding how these measures would be funded, Konstantopoulou rejected claims that the proposals are financially impractical. She argued that critics spend far larger sums on direct government contracts, undisclosed secret funds and national debt servicing. She stated that funding would be secured by restructuring the national budget.
Freedom Festival Anniversary Event
Konstantopoulou concluded by announcing the Freedom Festival, an event marking ten years since the founding of Course of Freedom. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at the Rematia Theater in Chalandri, a suburb in northern Athens.
She stated that the festival will focus on the themes of water, peace, justice and Palestine, with singer Giorgia Kefala set to perform. Describing herself as a passionate concertgoer, Konstantopoulou added that musical performances play an important role for children and teenagers in shaping their perspective on the world.
