Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content:
In a strong critique of the nation’s political landscape, particularly targeting the three major parties—ND, PASOK, and SYRIZA—Stefanos Kasselakis, the president of the Movement for Democracy, addressed the inaugural congress of his party.
He also announced a collaboration with the Plefsi Eleftherias regarding the issue of the deadly train crash in Tempi. “We have agreed with Zoë Konstantopoulou to work together to do what the families of the victims demand. We will hold all political figures and the mastermind, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accountable before the preliminary investigation to bring them to trial. Together, we are forming a justice front inside and outside parliament. If we need to cooperate to dismantle the corrupt political system, we will do it,” Mr. Kasselakis stated.
Beginning his speech, he remarked, “The political system in the country is rotten and suffers heavily. If it weren’t so rotten, Kyriakos Mitsotakis would not be serving a second term. His rule only fosters more decay and corruption.” He continued, “ND, PASOK, and SYRIZA are three facets of the same corrupt system. They are the managers of the swamp they created for us. It is time to send them home, and some to court. The old political system must be decisively defeated and eradicated because we need fresh air for democracy and humanity. There is no time or space for neutrality. You are either with their swamp or with the change.”
“Today, We End the Metapolitefsi”
He referred to the recent SYRIZA congress, which had excluded him from candidacy, saying, “A few months ago, many of us were denied entry outside a nightclub. Inside were the remnants of a group that tarnished the left. Today, we conclude the Metapolitefsi.”
Kasselakis asserted that his exclusion was the result of a conspiracy, stating, “The decision to censure and exclude the elected president was premeditated. Two pivotal moments led to it. Firstly, I was the only political leader to raise the scandal of the Attica Bank, despite warnings that challenging banks would end my career. I told them I was not afraid. The second key moment was when I discussed the taboo topic of illicit funding for parties. The insiders feigned ignorance, and then the order came: ‘Get rid of him.’ What followed was the chronicle of a planned decapitation.”
Kasselakis claimed he was not given any grace period as new leader, adding, “I made mistakes and didn’t capitalize on momentum, trusting the wrong people, but those are expected from a new politician. Remember how Alex Tsipras was in 2008 and how he evolved in government; the same goes for Kyriakos Mitsotakis in 2016 and 2019. Everyone deserves the chance to mature except me. Nonetheless, after two splits, I left the party at 15%. That was not acceptable to them. They ‘saved their house,’ dropping to 5%. The 15% came as a white rebellion from all of SYRIZA, proposing ideas for better everyday life. Our unpretentious use of social media brought us to the forefront among ages 17-35.” He added, “They want to tarnish me.”
He extensively discussed his recent court ruling, declaring, “The recent judicial decision marked a personal turning point for me. My experience reveals that justice does not function as it should. It’s painful but insignificant compared to the tragedy faced by families in Tempi and mothers of femicide victims. It’s minimal when considering the sordid exploits of the Truth Team, the wiretaps from the Maximos Mansion, and the cover-up of the Tempi disaster. If no one has ever been prosecuted for the bribes and illicit funding, if the disgraceful fact of Kostas Karamanlis and Christos Spirtzis walking freely endures, I take moral pride in my conviction. […] The company that loaned SYRIZA workers was legitimate abroad, not offshore, as those talking about my supposed conviction for asset disclosure claim. I was not convicted for my assets; rather, the Greek government passed a law allowing expatriates to run for office while maintaining the stipulation that elected officials cannot own companies abroad. The system punishes successful expatriates. Yet, once I discovered this law, I transferred ownership. I was tried for being late. While the prosecutor recommended my acquittal, the judge abruptly interrupted, exchanged messages, and returned to impose a heavy sentence to achieve media headlines. They succeeded in their goal, as the regime’s media reported, ‘Kasselakis was convicted for asset disclosure.’ The public recognizes what this corrupt system feeds them. No one remembers the conspiracy, but everyone recalls the guilt. Their political objective—to discredit a new politician—was fulfilled. They aim to delegitimize the Movement for Democracy, portraying it as a personal construct crumbling with its founder. The Movement for Democracy is not and will never become a Kasselakis party. It is the first party in Greece born from the society for the society.”
He highlighted his party’s actions thus far, expressing pride that Theodora Tzakri serves as vice president of the European Democratic Party. He continued, “The greatest achievement is formulating proposals for social and political life. Each week we submit proposals, actively engaging. However, how many of these actions and proposals reach society? Media suffocation is the open wound of the political system and the democracy deficit facing our country. The ailments stem from a political system that is unaccountable and operates without rules. The greatest patient in our democracy is justice.”
