The battle for control of the Greek Orthodox Community continues following the adjournment of the extraordinary meeting called on Thursday by GOCMV President Bill Papastergiadis.
The extraordinary meeting had been called to consider two petitions submitted by members.
The first petition signed by 250 members calls for immediate general elections while a second petition calls for changes to the constitution.
Papastergiadis spoke to GOCMV Secretary Jenny Krasopoulakis to let her know that he was running a few minutes late and that he was walking to the GOCMV building. George Fountas however insisted that the meeting be adjourned.
Papastergiadis arrived at the meeting at 6 15 pm, only to discover that the meeting had been adjourned and Con Dikeos, George Fountas and Christos Tsirkas leaving the GOCMV offices.
Papastergiadis said to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE) that the actions of Dikeos, Fountas and Tsirkas was a ploy to avoid Thursday’s critical discussion of the petitions.
However Dikeos insisted to NKEE that their refusal to wait for Mr Papastergiadis to conduct a meeting was not a ploy.
“The meeting was to start at 6pm and at 6:12 Kostas Tsoubakos who is obviously a member of Bill Papastergiadis’ faction in the Greek Community board made the following statement: Let’s start the meeting, there’s no reason to wait. We have a vice-president,” Mr Dikeos said.
“Besides, Mr Papastergiadis is the one who insists on starting meetings on time,” he added.
But Kostas Tsoubakos vehemently denies ever making such a statement and underscores the fact that he contacted Papastergiadis to see where he was only to receive a text reply at 6:10 from Papastergiadis that he was just minutes away from the office.
Con Dikeos and Christos Tsirkas expressed their outrage that the extraordinary meeting was held during Holy Week.
From the moment the meeting was scheduled for Thursday, members of the Board associated with Dikeos and Foundas questioned whether the meeting should proceed.
Questions were raised about the legality of the meeting.
GOCMV board, Zissis Pouros, Eugenia Grammatikaki and Yiannis Lioupas called for the meeting not to go ahead.
The latest outburst of factional fighting not only overshadows the GOCMV’s essential purpose, it also highlights the farcical nature of the situation, according to a community member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“It’s obvious that Mr Fountas’ faction wants to delay the prospect of early elections as much as possible in the hope of signing up more members and controlling the numbers,” said this member.
On the other hand Papastergiadis’ faction, according to their estimates, can deal a convincing blow to their opponents’ electoral aspirations.
Meanwhile the meeting has been rescheduled by Bill Papstergiadis and will be held this Friday.
Con Dikeos indicated to NKEE that they will attend the meeting although a regular Board meeting is scheduled May 4.
The latest infighting follows a change in the balance of power on the GOCMV board as a result of Con Dikeos shifting camps and aligning himself with former GOCMV President, George Fountas.
The realignment triggered changes in the GOCMV executive with Papastergiadis supporters, Kostas Markou, Dimitris Iakovakis and George Kallianis replaced by Fountas supporters, Jenny Krasopoulakis, Eugenia Grammatikakis and Zisis Pouros respectively.