Georgios Hatzimarkakis Starts a New Political Party

Georgios Hatzimarkakis will announce today the establishment of a new pro-European Union Citizens’ Movement that will participate in the forthcoming European elections The principles and the name of the new political party will be unveiled officially during a ceremony at the European Parliament Office in Athens.

Hatzimarkakis is a German politician of Greek descent, Member of the European Parliament with the Free Democratic Party of Germany (part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe).

The MEP, who hails from Crete, announced in April that he would be quitting German politics at the end of his term at the European Parliament because of the way Cyprus was treated when its bailout was negotiated.

"My soul, my spirit does not permit me to continue, so I have decided not to stand again as a candidate in Germany,» the 46-year-old told the Athens Macedonia News Agency, accusing German politicians of using stereotypes to tarnish the image of Cypriots and Greeks.