The Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras called for an extraordinary parliamentary session on Monday to discuss the ongoing negotiations with Greece΄s creditors. Greece on Friday delivered a list of what its creditors referred to as ideas for reform. They are still expected to deliver a more concrete list in the next few days to unlock bailout funds.
Nick Paleologos / SOOC
In a speech to parliament seemingly designed to put the opposition on the spot as to their position on the negotiations, he said that his government has been delivering on its pledge to ‘turn the page’ and end Greece’s debt colony status, and that support for his government had grown since the elections. He asked opposition parties if they would support his efforts, or be a mouthpiece for the country's creditors, and reiterated his commitment to ending austerity and not backing down on opposing cuts to pensions and wages.
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Answering his critics, he asserted that SYRIZA was not leading the country to the edge of an abyss; it was already in the abyss when they came to power. He referred to the Eurogroup 20 February agreement as a landmark deal which opens the way to debt restructuring, which Greece sorely needs if it is to repay its debts
He accused the previous government of lying about the state of public finances, claiming that upon coming to power he found the government coffers empty, with a cash deficit of about 2.5 billion euros, and that contrary to the New Democracy led previous government's assertion that the primary surplus was 3.3 billion euros, the reality was 2.7 billion euros less than claimed. He also questioned their decision not to pursue the infamous Lagarde list, a list of potential Greek tax evaders, as well as their lack of action on broadcast licenses of private media in Greece, which is one of the reforms on the memorandum which SYRIZA intends to go through with.
Former prime minister Samaras, for his part, criticized the government's confrontations with its creditors, as well as their immigration policy, claiming that it had filled with streets with illegal immigrants. Following his intervention, the speaker of the parliament, Zoi Konstantopoulou, called for respect for human rights and refrain from sexism and racism in the parliament.
Golden Dawn leader Mihaloliakos also spoke for the first time since his release from prison a week ago, where he's been detained for 18 months. He will stand trial next month on charges of participating in and directing a criminal organization.