Karatzaferis eyes ND-LAOS alliance to stop Tsipras
The leader of Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS), Giorgos Kartzaferis, said Thursday that he is prepared to work with New Democracy, the party from which he was ousted in 2000, to prevent SYRIZA winning the next general elections.
Speaking on Mega TV on Thursday, Karatzaferis made it clear that he would not be returning to the conservative party but that he would consider a cooperation between New Democracy and LAOS. Karatzaferis’s only proviso for this alliance is that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras abandons austerity policies.
“I believe that Antonis Samaras can see that these policies will not go far,” he said. “If there is a change in policy, I will offer my services.”
Kartazaferis has been out of the limelight since leaving the coalition government led by Lucas Papademos in early 2012. However, LAOS garnered 2.7 percent at the European Parliament elections in May and this triggered a discussion about whether his ultra-nationalist party could still have a part to play in Greek politics.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Makis Voridis, who left LAOS to join New Democracy in 2012, suggested that now was a suitable time for a new alliance to be formed. “Now that a discussion is beginning about how this country will move forward, it is clear that all those things that had divided people from the same ideological and political camps no longer stand,” said Voridis.
Karatzaferis said that his main interest is to prevent Alexis Tsipras becoming prime minister. “I will do everything I can to prevent Tsipras coming to power.”
