Panayiotis Psomiadis launches new party ahead of Euro polls
Former Central Macedonia Governor Panayiotis Psomiadis on Thursday announced the creation of his own party, to run in the May 25 European Parliament elections.
At a news conference in Thessaloniki, Psomiadis unveiled the name of the new group, which will be called Patrida (Homeland), and said that he was glad to be leaving New Democracy.
“I haven’t moved away from New Democracy, New Democracy has moved away from me,” he said.
Psomiadis also suggested that he felt betrayed by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras after helping the conservatives rally their voters in the June 2012 general elections.
“Mr Samaras and his government owe me a lot,” he said.
In 2011, Psomiadis was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence for reducing a fine issued to a gas station owner in Thessaloniki.
In March last year he was given a 15-month suspended jail sentence for breach of duty and faith with regard to the protection of Lake Koroneia, near Thessaloniki.
