I feel relieved after the choice I’ve made.

A weight has been lifted off my conscience. It is to the benefit of our parliamentary system that at least one deputy had the courage to carry the sins of the past year.

I have to confess that from now on I will not be afraid, I am not alone. A wave of citizens from all the parts of the country, people from all parties, have declared their love and support.

Core members of my party were no less moved and sincerely conveyed their feelings to me, reassuring me that the expulsion from the party doesn’t mean anything. I feel the same way.

From now on I will fight so that our powerful partners in the European Union will not forget that historically we have reacted positively to all European challenges. We have supported them when they needed us, without evading disasters and sacrifices.

I will fight so that the positive minds that we can still find in the European Union will work out development programmes for our country so that we can regain hope. Patriotism in these crucial times equals the support of the weak. My patriotic and social duty will guide my steps from here on.

Panayiotis Kouroumplis is a Pasok deputy from Etoloakarnania