Panagiotis Lafazanis

About 60 members of Popular Unity occupied EU offices in Athens protesting against the arrival of the troika in Greece and EU decisions on refugee.

Among the demonstrators is the head Popular Unity Panagiotis Lafazanis and Mr. Stratoulis and Leotsakos. They are protesting against EU decisions which are turning Greece into a vast hotspot.

I am sure many of you remember this night exactly one year ago. Jan. 25, 2015. Athens was up in flames; the radical leftist party of Syriza managed to come first in the general elections with a surprising 36.34 percent of the vote and 49 seats in the parliament, three short of an absolute majority. 

Former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis’ shocking revelations regarding details of Plan X has shed new light on the behind-the-scenes machinations of the July 5 referendum. The well-detailed Grexit scheme included the organization of soup kitchens, medicine collection, hijacking the telecommunications system and the issue of a new currency.

Bank of Greece Governor Yiannis Stournaras called on the country’s party leaders on Sunday to maintain their political consensus and help pull Greece out of the financial crisis once and for all.

Left party ‘Popular Unity’ lead by Panagiotis Lafazanis released a statement Wednesday demanding a recount of votes in four regions of the wider Athens area.

There was enthusiasm at SYRIZA’s headquarters on Koumoundourou street from the first exit polls that put the party ahead of its main rival, the conservative New Democracy party. As the night progressed with votes tallied in the party’s favor, reserved joy gave way to smiles and cheers… and the flow of whiskey.

I spent the whole month of August and the first part of September in Athens. I was there just after the painful negotiations of Alexis Tsipras' team in Brussels with Greece's creditors, when he had to capitulate to a new three-year bailout agreement that would secure a further 86 billion euros, but under tough terms and constant monitoring.

Right-wing populist Independent Greeks (ANEL), Popular Unity Party (Laiki Enotita) and Union of Centrists are seeking a place in Greek Parliament. Exit polls at 7 p.m. showed all three parties having a chance to gather 3% of the votes with the following estimations:

ANEL – 3-4% estimations

Leader of the leftist party Popular Unity, Panagiotis Lafazanis expressed his optimism that his party would finally enter the Greek parliament, despite the cross cross-channel exit polls giving his party between 2.5-3.5% at 7pm. He said that all should wait for the official results of the ballots.

Popular Unity leader Panagiotis Lafazanis voted a few minutes after 9am at Korydallos polling station and stated: “Our priority in this election is young people. They must say a big NO to frustration and to they are all the same”. We are called to say a big NO to austerity so as Greek young people won’t leave Greece”.