Parliament debate on social security draft-bill has triggered a strong confrontation between the government and opposition parties. In his intervention, Employment Minister A. Loverdos launched an attack against both the ND and Left parties while he expressed optimism that Greece would be able to lift some of the austerity measures in the coming period. Opposition parties have strongly reacted to the social security draft-bill with the ND requesting a roll call vote. LAOS president George Karatzeferis also expressed his objection to the social security draft-bill.
Loverdos Launch Attacks against Opposition Parties
A high pitched debate on the social security draft-bill is being held at the Parliament Plenum while waiting for Prime-minister G. Papandreou speech.
Employment Minister A. Loverdos, addressing the Parliament Plenum, stressed that the government is reversing the decades long ailing climate by bringing the big reforms in the social security system without considering the political cost.
“We write off a period of artificial blissfulness and guarantee pensions to the next generation , at the same time trying to bring Greece back on the track of growth, credibility and blissfulness through fiscal purging” said the Employment Minister and committed himself “if the economy recovers there will be many possibilities to lift injustices our lenders set as terms”.
“If measures bear fruit we will be in a position to lift the tough, unfair and dramatic decisions we have taken”, said the Employment Minister, noting that 90% of the draft-bill were the government proposals as submitted in February before the memorandum.
He, however, admitted that the swift reform in retirement age and the abolition of 13 and 14 pensions were terms set by the lenders. But reassured that many injustices would be restored when the economy recovers.
Mr. Loverdos also spoke of fabrication of an unfair picture against the leadership of the Employment Ministry. “Television has projected a picture that we are mean people and want to do bad to people”. He blamed the main opposition party for being arrogant as it could not convince that it could better implement reforms in social security and for voting against the rescue mechanism.
(source: ana-mpa, net)
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