ATHENS. Stelios Pappas, 70, is one of the historical faces of the Greek left. Leader of the Polytechnic Resistance during the Colonels, he ended up in prison for his “subversive activity”. He was freed with the return to democracy, he was the standard-bearer of Hellenic Eurocommunism, now he is one of Alexis Tsipras’s advisors. Sitting at a Kessariani bar, another historical place for Greece – the scene of a Nazi massacre – try to explain what is and what will be the challenge of the (former and perhaps future) premier.

First of all, what do you think of his resignation?
“It was a necessary choice, in its own way it is a historic decision, like that of the referendum”.

Return to the vote after seven months of government is not a defeat?
“The day we went to the government we faced an unexpected phase of struggle, with a double battle, internal and external. We need to calculate this”.

Yes, but what are you going to say in the election campaign? You are opposed to the memorandum and you will have to apply it.
“The Greek people know that the only way to get out of the crisis, if there is one, is in the hands of Syriza and Tsipras. Now Europe also knows that it has tried in every way to sabotage this government. We have replied with the referendum and we got an agreement that gives us money to relaunch the economy and the debate on the debt cut “.

But is this agreement good or not? You have reluctantly accepted it, as Tsipras says, then defend it.
“It is a better agreement than the previous ones, with an exception to the budget surplus which alone is worth 20 billion euros. In which we have preserved part of our decision-making autonomy. We write the laws, we are not delivered from Brussels, unlike of the past”.

So, this Europe is not so bad, or not?
“Europe is a field of struggle, our field of struggle, where different forces and sensitivities coexist. No State alone or any left has the strength to control the speed with which the economy moves and the concentration of wealth “For this reason we need a process and a democratic revolution to face these forces. Some countries like Italy and France have helped us in this way”.

What did you do wrong during these months of government?
“We have not done enough to take root in intermediate bodies and local institutions. You think that Syriza does not have a union near the party. We are with the workers, and the forces that organize them oppose us. The capital is well organized, those who work do not”.

From the human point of view, how was Tsipras’ approach to power?
“On election day he told me:” But when will I really start living? “. I replied” never, dear Alexis. “He has shown that he has a nose for and is pragmatic. His consent has increased, it is one of the five “The most well-known illicit in the world. Above all, from 1944 to today it was the first leader of the Greek left to say that it was not enough to oppose and to govern. He is still doing so today with humility, despite his determination”.

But he failed to hold the party together …
“Going out of the euro, as some want (Lafazanis, the leader of the minority of Syriza who is out with other 24 deputies, ed), would be isolating us geopolitically. And the time the country did it, after the Second World War, it fell into civil war. I won’t add anything else “.

Is there a limit beyond which you will never go, compared to the demands of Europe?
“It depends on many factors, for sure (smiles, ed) we will never cede the Acropolis to anyone …”.