Varoufakis' party pledges to support Minority's claims
Before the general elections expected to be held in April, a party represented in the parliament published a party program on minority policy for the first time in Greece.
The MeRA 25 party published its minority policy with the slogan "The only party that supports the minority and the rightful demands of the minority" and touched upon the issues related to the demands of the Turks of Western Thrace that have been expressed for years.
Unlike other parties, the MeRA25 party also drew attention by demanding that minority associations be freely established under their own names and with names that define their ethnic identities.
In addition, it is advocated that all powers in matters concerning the (Turkish) minority be transferred to the Ministry of Interior, and that all the powers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek National Intelligence Organization (EYP) regarding minority issues should be abolished.
MERA 25 supports the provision of bilingual kindergarten education for the Western Thrace Turkish minority.
Regarding the election of the mufti in the party program, there is an article: "Muftis should be elected or determined by the members of the minority, and those to be elected or determined should be appointed by the state".
The articles that the MeRA 25 party included in the minority program in the brochure published in Turkish are as follows:
▶ Taking into account the Lausanne Treaty framework, minority rights defined by international conventions should be protected.
▶ The way for associations to be freely established and to carry out their activities with names that they have chosen and that define their ethnic identities should be paved.
▶ The United Nations Declaration on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities must be fully respected and implemented.
▶ Council of Europe Convention and Conditions for minority or regional languages must be signed and ratified immediately.
▶ All authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EYP (Greek Intelligence Agency) on minority issues should be abolished, by transferring all powers to the Ministry of Interior in matters concerning the minority.
▶ Equal participation of minority members in public administration should be ensured. Minority members in the security forces and the army should be treated equitably in matters such as seniority and promotion.
▶ Equal access opportunities to all levels of education should be created for all minority children, and the education system and opportunities should be upgraded.
▶ To facilitate the integration of minority children in education, bilingual, two-year pre-school (kindergarten) education should be provided.
▶ Measures should be taken to improve the health status of the region's population, and free access to doctors and hospitals should be provided.
▶ Muftis should be elected or determined by members of minorities, and those to be elected or appointed should be appointed by the state.
▶ All kinds of judicial and judicial powers of mufti should be abolished. For all minority citizens (male or female) legal disputes must necessarily be resolved by the Greek Courthouses.
In the Turkish brochure of the MeRA 25 party, the articles related to the country program of the party were also included. The program demanded that Souda, Alexandroupoli and all of Greece be prevented from becoming a base for the American armed forces. Under the title of "the only party fighting against the oligarchs", there were articles related to the economic, political, and social program of the party.
The party program of MeRA 25, presented as 7+1 items, is briefly as follows:
Cheap electricity for everyone! The Energy Exchange should be abolished immediately and the DEI should be nationalized again.
15%, 6%, and up to 0% VAT discount on fertilizers for competitive businesses! Producers should be supported by removing all prepayments in taxes, structuring tax debts and credit debts, and reducing taxes. Inflation must be fought by increasing the minimum wage in proportion to the cost of living!
No one should be homeless! The "IRAKLIS" program should be canceled immediately, and the foreclosures on the homes of single residents should be stopped immediately.
Green Energy that is friendly to people and the environment! No to drilling and pipelines! Energy production should be adopted where solar panels are mounted on every roof, wind turbines are deployed at sea, and green hydrogen is produced.
Get involved in the decision-making processes! The public should take part in the control mechanisms on issues such as health, education, and information, with elections and lots.
No to further privatization of public property! In state institutions and public properties, democratic control and national sovereignty must be restored and privatizations must be prevented!
Free digital transactions with no bank fees! The “DIMITRA” financial transactions system should be established and the payment of fees to banks should be stopped.
In a world where there are no 7+1 military blocs and alliances with reactionary regimes, an Independent-Aligned foreign policy based on the New Non-Aligned Movement that will support world peace should be followed. Souda, Alexandroupoli, and all of Greece must be prevented from becoming a base for the American armed forces.
