Greek Communists rule out coalition with main opposition party Syriza

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Monday ruled out the possibility of forming a “progressive coalition” as urged by the main opposition Syriza party.

The last time Syriza called for a government that would oppose austerity measures dictated by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it formed Greece’s most-establishment friendly government ever, KKE general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumpas said in an interview with the Ta Nea daily.

Koutsoumpas claimed that when it comes to “serving the EU, the interests of the capitalist class and the privatization of public properties and land,” Syriza as well as the center-left PASOK party pursue policies very similar to those of the ruling conservative Nea Dimokratia (ND) party.

He added that the Greek working class would never forgive the party’s participation in such a coalition.

Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, he said “Ukraine, and more specifically its people, has become a punching bag between Russia, the US, China, the EU and NATO under the responsibility of its ruling class and the Zelenskyy government,” referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He warned that 2023 could see a wider war to which Greece would be exposed to as a result of the government’s foreign policy choices.