Addressing the first meeting of SYRIZA’s parliamentary group, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras promised the coalition government that his party will engage in tough negotiations and put a final end to the Troika and its policies. He stressed that Greece will present its own road map for an exit from the crisis and a “new social contract in our shared European home, without landlords and tenants.” Greece will no longer take orders and will have its own voice and negotiating strength, he added, pointing out that in just one week, the government has succeeded in changing the agenda of the talks taking place in Europe. Austerity, he stressed, is not a founding rule of the European Union. Tsipras also underlined that it was the government’s obligation not to allow the citizens to be deceived again, repeating that the agreement with the people will be upheld. The Greek Premier sent a message to “all those, within and outside the country, that have a strategic plan to undermine Greece, to respect democracy and not undermine the country’s future.” He also promised “lightning action” to strike down clientelism and corruption through sweeping changes. Tsipras said that the new government is moving within a European framework, respects the rules and asks of everyone to do the same. He expressed strong concern over the things currently being said, at a time when far-right forces are becoming stronger in Europe. It was not the Greek government’s intention to blackmail anyone, but “neither to be blackmailed or threatened, because it is democracy in Europe, which cannot be blackmailed,” he said. Tsipras also advised all sides, “even the proponents of the harshest policies,” not to underestimate the intelligence of European citizens. Greece wanted neither charity nor “trusteeship,” he clarified, noting that deliberation has begun and both Europe and Greece need time. “Anyone that does not understand this, does not offer a service to our common future,” he added, repeating that the government would do everything to change things and not betray the voters’ trust. According to the Greek Premier, the government guarantees an end to sacrifices, especially pointless sacrifices without results, as well as people’s savings and a European course for the country. In a message to Greece’s creditors, he underlined that Greece was not a threat to any balance in Europe. “On the contrary, the new government comes to restore balance in Europe,” he added and warned MPs to be careful “because you are part of the people’s contemporary history, you are the voice of social struggles and you must not forget this.” Tsipras underlined the need to end the humanitarian crisis in the country, stressing that SYRIZA would not serve the financial markets and sell off state property. He also expressed satisfaction with poll results showing that public opinion expresses satisfaction with the government’s moves and stressed that there was a carefully worked-out strategic plan for the negotiation and a vision for the country’s reconstruction. Commenting on the results of his meetings in European capitals in the last few days, Tsipras said he has presented his positions and his plan for a new deal, underlining that the government has already gained allies that had not been won in the last five years. “Greece is no longer the wretched partner that listens to speeches about studying hard and doing its homework. It has a voice and proposals,” Tsipras noted, adding that he was waiting to hear the German side’s proposals as “we have not heard anything specific.” In the last few years, Greece has been living through a nightmare with the implementation of a failed program and “no sane person wants this nightmare to continue,” Tsipras underlined. In spite of this, he added, there are people within and outside Greece that have served and continue to serve this “experiment” of inhuman policies, underlining that the choice made by Greeks on January 25 ruled out a return to the “years of hardship.” (source: ana-mpa)
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