THE Coalition For Europe yesterday announced it would be holding its founding congress next week while the party’s national congress would be held after the summer.
Speaking at a news conference, former DISY deputy Prodromos Prodromou noted that no one “can belong to the coalition and any other political party at the same time”.
Prodromou, who was expelled from DISY along with his colleague Rikkos Erotocritou, went ahead and formed the coalition, which managed to elect former DISY chairman Yiannakis Matsis as an MEP.
The coalition also enjoys the support of deputy Christodoulos Taramountas who has distanced himself from DISY and DISY deputy Demetris Syllouris.
The latter two are technically still members of DISY.
Prodromou’s comment could be read as a warning, especially to Matsis, who has not yet committed himself, to take a decision on where they stand.
“This applies to everyone, and us,” he said.
Prodromou added that the founding congress would finalise the establishment of a new political formation and from the moment Taramountas and Matsis would participate, they could not, at the same time, be members of other parties.
“This would not be beneficial, neither for our formation nor of course for the other parties.
“It is a basic principle we expect everyone will respect,” Prodromou said.
Asked whether Matsis would be part of the coalition if he did not mark himself out from DISY, Erotocritou said Matsis had marked himself out by his recent statements.
“Anything Matsis decides will be respected by us, but we should all, including Matsis, first respect common sense and political ethics,” Erotocritou said.
Prodromou stressed that Matsis should clear his positions himself, adding that everything would be resolved with the founding declaration.
“Coalition for Europe will promote modern and flexible organisational structures, which are in line with the European spirit and its modernising direction,” Erotocritou said.
Prodromou said the coalition had nothing to do with DISY and was born when DISY went bankrupt on the national issue after it was proven that it was no longer a democratic party.
