Heavenly king, comforter, the spirit of truth, who are everywhere present and fill all things, the treasury of goodness and giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, o good one. Amen!
Political populism goes hand in hand with the exploitation of religion. Both target vulnerable, good-hearted, gullible, and misled people.
They believe easily, unquestioningly. Whatever, for example, a politician can promise today, tomorrow once elected, he might give them a pension of 4,000 or even a herb that will cure them of all illnesses and troubles…
So I started yesterday, Thursday, my radio show on ERT and received a lot of flak, verbally of course, from outraged listeners. I kept the messages. I consider them my badge of honour!
These extremists think they can do whatever they want in Parliament – and not only there. The pioneers, of course, were the (and stamped by Justice) criminal elements of Golden Dawn, which unfortunately has spread branches elsewhere – I hope not in Cyprus, which usually is influenced by the Motherland, not always by its good aspects.
A characteristic example, independent MP Konstantinos Floros, coming from the Spartiates of Kasidiaris, attacked Wednesday, both verbally and physically, within the Parliament, against the MP of Greek Solution (Velopoulos), Vasilis Grammenos, causing him a broken nose.
At the same time, as the political editor of the newspaper “Proto Thema”, Christos Bokas, writes, the violent incident in combination with the exclusion of the Spartiates from the European elections, could bring significant changes to the electoral front of the far right.
The 2.5% recorded in the polls by Spartiates is hardly likely to be directed towards Velopoulos anymore, especially considering the close ties between Floros and Kasidiaris.
As he writes in his biography, he has been involved in politics since his school years, he says, mainly because of his “feelings for the homeland”!
This patriot was arrested and remains in custody as, according to the legal expert President of the Parliament, Mr. Tasoulas, his act falls under an article of the Penal Code and he was prosecuted for a criminal offense.
In the same show, I hosted Alexis Vafeiadis, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works of Cyprus.
Where road behavior also has its problems, especially with high speeds in urban and non-urban areas, alcohol and other substance use, and mobile phone use – however, at least, some measures are being taken and one of them, which we discussed, seems to be yielding good results.
It is the measure of traffic light cameras which, according to the Minister, despite objections about the height of fines, record a significant reduction in traffic accidents from traffic light violations.
Unfortunately, in Greece, they do not seem willing to follow the positive example of Cyprus. After Mr. Vafeades, I spoke with a senior official of the Ministry here, responsible for the Traffic Code and I only heard generalities regarding the issue of red light violation, every day, everywhere.
Does anyone consider the “personal data-right” of those who are killed on the roads by kamikazes, drunk drivers, reckless drivers, and mobile phone users?
No comment. We are filled with… the sensitive ones!
