The initial reactions of Greek opposition parties to the new austerity measures announced by the government after a lengthy meeting of the government commission lasting over 6 hours are very harsh. Giannis Michelakis, the spokesman of Nea Dimocratia, the main opposition party (centre-right), spoke of ”a tsunami of unfair and unbearable measures, the result of a mistaken economic policies.”. ”The government,” added Michelakis, ”did not speak about the total cost of the measures, since behind its statement other measures are concealed.
There is no respect for citizens who every day are called upon to make large sacrifices without getting anything in exchange by policies which are plunging us ever more into a recession.” Aleka Papariga, Secretary General of Greece’s Communist Party (KKE), has once again urged the population not to pay taxes.
”Not even one step back,” Papariga said. ”We must turn the government’s life into a living hell. This is what we must do starting from today.” ”The socialist government of Pasok,” the other left-wing party in Greece, Syriza said in a statement,” has no right to continue with the same catastrophic policies, not only because it lacks democratic legality but also because it is in clear contrast with the vast majority of society.” ”Measures which are harsher than the previous ones and not as harsh as those to come,” reads a statement by Laos, the extreme right party, ”it is not possible to dream of dignity and the quality of life while begging and praying.” ”The measures that the government announced today demolish the social achievements won with decades-long struggle and sacrifices,” was the comment by Democratic Alliance, a small leftist party.
”The government has exceeded all limits. It is turning the country into an enormous hospice for the poor,” was instead the comment of Constantinos Michalos, chairman of the Athens chamber of commerce and industry, in reference to the latest austerity measures. ”These measures,” added Michalos,” cannot be carried out. The government’s insensitivity due to an unprecedented incapableness cannot be accepted either by firms or by workers or even pensioners. The entrepreneurial world fears that the measures announced yesterday will not be the last.”
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