30.08.2007
EUROPEAN GREENS SUPPORT GREEN ECOLOGISTS IN
UPCOMING GREEK ELECTIONS
Greece needs Greens in Parliament
for control and transparency
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today
said that the current spate of devastating forest fires in Greece mean that it
is more important than ever that Green parliamentarians are elected in the
country’s general election due to be held on September 16th.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike
Lunacek said: “The fires which have so far
claimed the lives of at least 64 people are so serious that Greece is currently facing a human
and environmental disaster on a massive scale. Unfortunately, the response of
the authorities has been inadequate and badly organised and this is causing a
lot of anger and resentment in the country. It is worth pointing out that the
EGP has passed several resolutions in recent years calling on the Greek
government to do much more to protect its environment, including its forests.
This current crisis makes the upcoming elections even more important and
clearly shows how badly the Greek people have been let down, not only by the
governing New Democracy Party, but also by the main opposition party,PASOK. The
country urgently needs an alternative to the 2 party system and that is why we
call on the Greek people to vote for the GREEN ECOLOGISTS, the
EGP’s member party.”
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts
continued: “The Green
Ecologists have a radical and ambitious manifesto which focuses
on changing Greece’s
political landscape, which up to now has been characterised by clientelism, a
lack of long-term planning and a lack of transparency. If elected to
parliament, the GREEN ECOLOGISTS
aim to change this political landscape by advocating protection of the
environment, social solidarity and alternative, sustainable economic policies
as well as transparency and greater parliamentary control over government
spending and activities. Only such policies can ensure that Greece’s environmental and
cultural heritage as well as natural resources are protected and the current
forest fires should serve as an urgent reminder of the vulnerability of the
country’s environment. We hope that the Greek people vote for the GREEN ECOLOGISTS on
September 16th as that is the best way of moving away from an
outdated type of politics which does not serve the people well and enabling Greece
to tackle the environmental, social and economic challenges it faces.”
Graham Burgess
Communications Officer
European Green Party
Tel no :+32 2 626 0724
Mobile:+32 477 902
023
email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org
www.europeangreens.org