Sunday, one week before, 20.20. The KYSEA meeting on developments in the Middle East is over and the phone of Mr. Petros Beleris, son of Mr. Fredy Beleris, rings. On the other end of the phone line, an associate of the Greek Prime Minister announces to the son of Fieri, the elected mayor of Heimarra, who is incarcerated in prison, of his father’s candidacy on the N.D.’s European ballot.
It was the completion of a thriller that had been developing for weeks, with several transitions, but also intra-governmental conflicts. In the end, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, weighing all the facts, decided that the Beleris candidacy has both symbolic and substantive significance. Symbolic, as it demonstrates that the ethnic minority of Albania not far away, but also essential, as Mr. Fr. Beleris is a strong name that gels in the backbone of N.D. and to the right-wing audience.
The scene that unfolded last Monday at the Athens Conservatory, after all, was indicative. When the name of Mr. Fr. Beleri, everyone stood up, reserving a standing ovation for the great absentee of the evening during which the “blue” European ballot was announced. At the same time, in the “gallery” of the hall, Chimarriotes rhythmically shouted his name, while the other candidate Pyrros Dimas, the “lion of Chimarra”, as he was nicknamed, addressing Mr. P. Beleris said: ” Dad will be vindicated.”
The two dates
Before we get to the decision of Mr. Mitsotakis, the background has been orgy. Twice the son Beleris was at Megaros Maximos during this period of consultations, which started since the name of Mr. F. Beleris fell on the table. The first was a few weeks ago when, along with his brother Freddy, Leonardo Beleris, P. Beleris met with the government representative Pavlos Marinakis. His second appearance at the seat of the government was last Saturday, when he met with the trio Maki Voridis – Pavlos Marinakis – Thanasis Nezis. All three were supporters of Beleris candidacy. And if someone didn’t know it, they could conclude it last Monday outside the Conservatory, when Mr. Marinakis was warmly embracing Mr. Nezis, while Mr. Voridis had a conversation for an hour with gathered representatives of the minority.
The path from the first to the second date, however, was not linear. In the first phase, the prospect of Beleris candidacy was treated positively and seemed to be “locked in”. Around the N.D. congress, what was being said in the wells and even by associates of the prime minister was that his candidacy would add momentum and answer the concerns of traditional and right-wing voters.
After a few days, towards the end of last week, the mood turned, with the candidacy moving forward. Of course, from the Maximos Palace they broadcast that they never let information about his “cutting” leak, while adding that Mr. Mitsotakis had not reached a final decision, until last Sunday.
Counterproposal and denial
While the candidacy of Mr. Beleris seemed to be rejected in the previous days, some put an alternative on the table. “And why shouldn’t Petros Beleris be a candidate? And there will be no problem with Albania, and the symbolism will remain strong”, was the brief claim of those who suggested it. Admittedly, the idea was discussed. And when the P. Beleris appeared at Megaro Maximos the other dayOn Saturday, the possibility fell on the table, but more as an alternative rather than a direct proposal.
“Either Freddy will be a candidate or someone from the Beleris family,” son Beleris is reported to have said at the time, letting government officials know there would be no way out through him. Mr. Beleris did not receive any information that day, nor the next day, until early evening, when he received the confirming phone call from the prime minister’s office.
The suggestions
However, in order to get to the alternative ideas regarding the Beleris family, the suggestions against the candidacy of the elected mayor of Heimarra had prevailed. The most outspoken dissenters were the Foreign Secretary George Gerapetritis and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulouboth close associates of the prime minister.
The above were of the opinion that the Beleris candidacy would degrade an issue that has emerged as an issue of European order and is directly linked to Albania’s accession perspective in a narrowly bilateral and purely partisan manner. And within Maximus, of course, there were reservations from prime ministerial associates who were not all as warm to this particular candidacy. The common denominator of all of these, however, is that, on the one hand, they are not members of the ND, and on the other hand, most of them do not come politically from it.
In Maximos’ current line-up, the strongest supporters of the Beleris candidacy were the three men who eventually held the final meeting with his son and then argued in favor of it in their contacts with the prime minister: the Minister of State Makis Voridisthe government representative Pavlos Marinakis and the prime minister’s advisor Thanasis Nezis were of the opinion that the Beleris candidacy will write very positively and will “concrete” the gaps that exist on the right wing of the ND, as a result of which leaks will be recorded.
The campaign
So now the question is what happens from here on. The Beleris family, which does not have the political experience of Greece, nor powerful mechanisms, is oriented towards a more economical campaign, with tours of their relatives and friends in various parts of Greece and targeted interviews. Mr. F. Beleris will be placed in writing from prison and it remains to be seen if he will be able to send some audio messages as well, such as the statement he made on the day of the announcement of his candidacy.
Notably, in the next few days the Beleri side will also file its appeal against the first instance decision of the special Albanian court. Of course, his relatives do not expect much. It is open to the possibility that, if the court of appeal upholds the first instance decision, Mr. F. Beleris will be deprived of his political rights and the procedures for his removal from the office of mayor of Heimarra will be initiated. Of course, if the European elections have intervened and he has managed to be elected, the rather paradoxical an elected MEP to be held in prison as a candidate for EU membership. state.
Mr. Beleris will be supported politically in view of the upcoming elections by his political friends from the past. Among them, Mr. Angelos Syrigos, whose office was also involved in the first phases of the announcement of the candidacy. Also, the other member of Parliament for Athens and an old acquaintance of Mr. F. Beleris, Thanos Pleuris, who has long since said that he will campaign in his favor, will also enter the equation. It is estimated that Mr. Voridis and the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis will do the same and maybe not only.
As “THEMA” is informed, there was a communication between the former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and P. Beleris, given that the former Prime Minister showed a keen interest in the fate of F. Beleris during all these 11 months that he remains in prison. This move is estimated to be an indirect nod by Mr. Samaras in favor of Beleris’ candidacy, something that remains to be seen if he will express himself publicly.
According to the same information, the former prime minister is also positive towards the Beleris candidacy Kostas Karamanlis. The attitude of the two former prime ministers is important, especially if one considers their recent appearance at the N.D. congress, which showed that their relations with Mr. Mitsotakis are not particularly warm at this stage.
Rama’s visit
At this juncture, however, the information about the visit of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Athens in May becomes of additional interest. Given that parliamentary elections will also be held in Albania in 2025, “THEMA” information states that Mr. Rama plans to come to Greece on the weekend of May 11-12, in order to meet with members of the Albanian community in Greece.
If this happens, it will be Rama’s first visit to Greek soil since the crisis with Mr. F. Beleris broke out and it remains to be seen whether he will seek any contact with the Greek political leadership. And in Athens, however, there is a sense that Mr. Rama has long been looking for an exit strategy from a situation that has further hampered Albania’s already uphill accession path to the EU.
PHOTOS: EUROKINISSI
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