Daniel Cohn-Bendit: “Shutting down ERT an act of totalitarianism”
Co-president of European parliament Green group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, during his interview on NET TV channel, likened the way Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation has been shut down to the methods of Poutin and Ahmadinejad, while pointing out that early elections would prove detrimental to Greece.
“I think the methods implemented in the case of ERT shut down, bring to mind the totalitarian and dictatorial methods of Poutin and Ahmadinejad.” he stated in his interview. “There is no doubt that reforms are needed, but the question is how these reforms are to be implemented” he said.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit underlined the need for a solution to be found in order for the public broadcaster to function again followed by a constructive dialogue. He stated his intention to listen to the employees themselves on how they imagine the public broadcaster’s future and how they intend to go on fighting from now on.
He expressed his disagreement to the eventuality of early elections, describing it as a “drama” and saying that the result could lead to a right –far right coalition government that would prove catastrophic.
“In my opinion Greece needs actions and not elections. Elections were held just a year ago. You cannot resort to elections every single year, every time a disagreement arises” he pointed out.
As for the European attitude towards the Greek government’s decisions, Mr. Cohn-Bendit said that Europeans should point out to Greek PM Samaras that he is in the wrong. “Countries that support these methods make a mistake. Merkel should understand that under the German constitution, she could never have implemented what happened in Greece” he stated.