The editor of the newspaper “Alithia” and longtime DISY official Frixos Koulermos speaks out regarding allegations of threats and pressure against Annita Dimitriou and Giorgos Pamporidis.
In a public statement, Mr. Koulermos clarifies the circumstances surrounding the meeting at Pindarou Street between party President Annita Dimitriou, former party President Averof Neophytou, and party MP George Pamporidis, which led to Ms. Dimitriou’s decision to withdraw her candidacy for the Democratic Alarm’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election.
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Mr. Koulermos notes that “I went to the Democratic Alarm offices alone when the president, Ms. Anita Dimitriou, invited me” and emphasizes that he was not invited “as a publisher or TV station owner,” but “I suppose as one of the people who built the Democratic Alarm.”
He also added, among other things, that “of course we talked and exchanged views and ideas, but only the politically unethical and malicious could interpret them as blackmail, pressure, patronizing, or ‘underhanded tactics’”.
Here is Kouloumos’s statement verbatim:
Within twenty-four hours, I heard dozens of times from various latecomers claiming to have good intentions that I was threatening, exerting pressure, and slandering the chairwoman of our faction and Mr. George Pamporidis. I consider these slanderous remarks unworthy of comment, but I feel compelled to set the record straight out of self-respect and as a minimum obligation to those with whom I am speaking.
I went to the offices of the Democratic Alarm alone when the president, Ms. Anita Dimitriou, invited me. Not as a publisher or TV executive, but, I suppose, as one of the people who built the Democratic Alarm, who are deeply concerned about the situation caused within the party by certain “Trojan horses” and who are making selfless efforts to restore unity within the party.
Later, Mr. Averof Neophytou arrived as well; as I understand it, he had been invited separately by the president. Together, we went to her office. Without any prior discussion whatsoever, Ms. Dimitriou announced her intention to withdraw from the race for the DISY presidential nomination, in a move to restore unity within the party. She told us that she would also invite Mr. Pamporidis to inform him of this and asked us to stay and listen.
Of course, we spoke and exchanged views and ideas, but only those who are politically unethical and malicious could interpret them as blackmail, pressure, patronizing, or “backstabbing”.
I regret that I was compelled to issue this clarifying statement. We, who have poured our hearts and souls into this political faction, do not resort to such practices.
