Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-06-18

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Interview with PASOK spokesman

[02] Reactions to leftist leader's intent to resign MP seat

[03] Police nab Iraqi, 19, transporting illegals in Thessaloniki

[01] Interview with PASOK spokesman

In an interview with the ANA-MPA released on Thursday, he also appeared confident that the very high abstention rate in the Euro poll could be turned to PASOK's advantage.

"It can prove the golden opportunity to expand the social majority that supports the demand for turning to a new page," he said.

PASOK was treating the election result as an unqualified success, Papaconstantinou said, in which it had achieved its goals and also received one of its highest ever percentages in a European Parliament election.

"We had called on citizens to condemn New Democracy and its policies en masse. ND finally received its lowest percentage in a European Parliament election since 1981," he pointed out, stressing that there was no reason not to be satisfied with the result.

"Obviously, there is still a long road ahead. We have an obligation to become even better, more convincing, and more specific. We have an obligation to approach the large reservoir of citizens that did not participate in the elections, listen to them more carefully and convince them to walk with us for a new start for the country," he added.

Stressing that PASOK would continue to occupy the centre-left and address the middle and lower-income classes, Papaconstantinou said the EuroParliament election results had shown that the goal of an independent majority was feasible for PASOK, "especially if we take into account the fact that PASOK always gets a higher percentage in the national elections than in the European Parliament elections.

According to PASOK's spokesman, ruling ND sudden preoccupation with the issue of illegal immigration in the wake of the election result was a tactical mistake.

"I think the citizens have realised that the government's sudden preoccupation with the issue of illegal immigration is nothing but a panic reaction after a heavy election loss, another example of party-political opportunism that seeks to restrict the extent of ND's losses to the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS). This gives the impression that the entire government is chasing after the 3 percent of voters that shifted from ND to LAOS," Papaconstantinou said.

[02] Reactions to leftist leader's intent to resign MP seat

Alavanos' resignation was declined by the party's secretariat.

Responding to relevant press questions, Tsipras said SYRIZA's poor showing in the recent Euro-elections "was bad but not disastrous," pointing out that it is "unjustified to be managed as such."

He also called for solidarity, calm and unity, while adding that no one is expendable. In the wake of rampant press speculation, Tsipras also said he does not intend to resign.

[03] Police nab Iraqi, 19, transporting illegals in Thessaloniki

A total of 11 minors and another 20 illegal migrants had been transported from Turkey to Greece, with Thessaloniki as the final destination.

The teen suspect was arrested after being reportedly being spotted near the city's railway station in the process of transporting the 11 minors with their parents and other adults -- the majority of them Iraqis.

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