A newly formed political movement seeking to exploit public dissatisfaction with Greece’s political establishment – at times a successful endeavor over the past years if judging from Parliament representation – has unveiled a platform centered on justice, institutional reform and national sovereignty, while rejecting cooperation with existing political forces and billing itself outside the traditional left-right divide.
Specifically, in her first major interview since launching the Hope for Democracy party, founder Maria Karystianou said her decision to enter politics stemmed directly from the campaign for accountability following the 2023 Tempi rail disaster. Speaking to a local television news program on Tuesday, she claimed that the state’s failure to deliver justice for the victims and their families had convinced her that political engagement was necessary.
A first instance trial involving nearly 40 defendants in the case is ongoing.
“If justice had been delivered for Tempi, you would not know who I am,” Karystianou said, adding that although she had always been politically conscious, she had not voted for years because she saw little reason for optimism within the existing political system.
She described Hope for Democracy as a grassroots social movement rather than a conventional party, saying it was founded by citizens facing common problems rather than by ideological factions. She said the movement places people at the center of its agenda and cannot be defined through the traditional categories of the Greek political spectrum.
Referring to recent geopolitical tensions – emanating from Ankara – involving a research vessel near the island of Kasos, she spoke of a “national duty,” seeking to give her movement a patriotic dimension. Regarding irregular migration, she called for stronger European involvement, tighter oversight of non-governmental organizations and tougher action against human traffickers.
Karystianou also rejected any prospect of cooperation with former prime minister Alexis Tsipras and his newly launched political movement, describing him as “rehashed food” and accusing the political establishment of failing the country.
