Kasidiaris on BN TV: I am returning to politics... if I were a pedophile, I would be free – Karystianou will bleed New Democracy

Ilias Kasidiaris describes himself as a political prisoner on the show MAGGA of BankingNews.gr’s online television, BN TV, in a wide-ranging interview with journalists Angie Stathatou and Sotiris Pikoulas. As the imprisoned former MP states, just a few days after his conviction by the Appeals Court as a leading member of the criminal organization Golden Dawn, "I am not accused of any violent act but for my speeches in Parliament, and I continue to be detained because I am considered dangerous for founding a party. If I were a pedophile, I would have already been released 2.5 years ago." When asked if he would like to apologize to the mother of Pavlos Fyssas, he maintains: "I respect every parent who has lost their child, I condemn every act of violence and the Fyssas murder twice, once because it is a murder and twice because it was committed by members of Golden Dawn."

"I am returning to politics"

Beyond the Karystianou and Tsipras parties currently in gestation, the surprise in the next elections is very likely to come again from the patriotic spectrum, with Ilias Kasidiaris gathering a strong percentage of the anti-establishment vote. However, before any official announcement, Kasidiaris chose to return dynamically to public discourse by giving a comprehensive interview to the show MAGGA and BN tv during his recent leave. The Appeals Court may not have reduced his sentence, but at the latest by the end of summer, he will be released upon the completion of his sentence and without restrictive conditions.

I spoke of closed borders when Plevris said border guarding without deaths is inconceivable

Ilias Kasidiaris argues that his positions on closed borders were more lenient than those of the Minister of Migration, Th. Plevris, who "said that border guarding without deaths is inconceivable," while he also refers to the incident of violence at the Ant1 studios, which he characterizes as a "bad moment, but I was irrevocably vindicated in court." Justice is manipulated by political figures, he asserts.

In another part of the interview, however, he castigates a portion of Greek judges: "There are judicial officers who receive orders from politicians," he says, while leaving hints about how the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee functioned in the OPEKEPE case: "Mitsotakis acquitted Avgenakis and Voridis, while I am inside for my speeches." Ilias Kasidiaris also refers to a complaint by the Vice President of the Supreme Court, alleging that he had been offered, by the current Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, a position as president of an Independent Authority to "cut off Kasidiaris." He characterizes the Spartans case as a constitutional coup, and the operation of Parliament with 297 and not 300 MPs: "Where are the progressive forces to protest that Parliament is functioning without 300 MPs?"

Mitsotakis does not support Cyprus, but the British bases

"The decision by Mitsotakis to send frigates to Cyprus is wretched," states the former MP, arguing that the mobilization took place for the British bases and not for Cyprus, while he also comments on Greece's agreement with the American company Chevron. He declares himself against the war and mentions that Donald Trump was elected because he said he would support global peace, something that has been disproven in practice. In another part of his interview with BankingNews.gr, Ilias Kasidiaris expresses the view that "there is no Europe without Russia and without Russia, Greece would not be an independent state," while he castigates Greece's involvement in favor of Ukraine and the dispatch of weapon systems to the war.

Samaras is a paradox that causes laughter

Ilias Kasidiaris attacks former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras with harsh expressions, saying that "he should be in prison, he is a paradox that causes laughter" and comments that "he is not going to form a party because he has no appeal." He predicts that a coalition government between ND and PASOK will emerge after the 2027 elections, as the blue faction will not have an absolute majority: "Mitsotakis and Androulakis will cooperate, the next government will be ND-PASOK."

Kasidiaris on Tsipras: They are bringing us the destroyer as a savior

He also criticizes Alexis Tsipras: "He will not have a percentage above 10%, the destroyer of Macedonia. I have been saying for a long time that they would bring us the destroyer as a savior." Regarding the Karystianou party, Ilias Kasidiaris argues that "it will bleed the base of ND; it will take the law-abiding citizens who are sickened by the filth." New Democracy faces a significant threat from this shift in voter sentiment.

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