Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras urged Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday to restore Greece’s credibility and stability, both domestically and abroad, and follow through with reforms proposed by the previous government.
“Instead of bringing tax cuts, you brought a tax raid. You brought the country to its knees domestically and denigrated the country abroad,” Samaras told MPs during an off-the-agenda televised debate that Tsipras requested in order to brief political parties on the ongoing talks with Greece’s creditors. “The country must change policy but first we must restore the country’s credibility and stability, both domestically and abroad,” he added.
The New Democracy leader also said his party is not afraid of elections but the country cannot afford elections at this point.
Commenting on the question posed by Tsipras earlier on whether the opposition would support a possible deal with the country’s creditors if it was tabled in Parliament, Samaras reverted the question by asking whether the governing SYRIZA party would support it. He then added: “You are asking us what we will do. Bring the final deal and we will tell you.”
He also made three proposals to Tsipras in order to achieve a national consensus: “First, you have to end slander. Secondly, you must change policy and stop protecting the public sector. I am struggling for the private sector. Third, restore credibility and stability.”
Samaras also accused Tsipras of lying about negotiating with the country’s creditors. “It’s impudence to ask us to state our position on whether we side with the proposal of our creditors or your own,” he noted. He continued to say that the government has missed all fiscal targets, bringing Greece at a difficult spot and reducing its credibility. He also said that the proposals tabled by the government will hurt the middle class.
(source: ana-mpa)
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