A day following the leak of the Greek government’s 170 page proposal to reform the Greek pension system, Greek Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili attacked the other political parties for their refusal to support the reform push.
While the reform leaked, Greek Labor Minister Giorgos Katrougalos met with political opposition leaders to convince them to support the reform. He was met with rejection by all parties.
Gerovasili claimed that the new reform, which involves lower pension rates for new claimers, does not reduce main pensions at all. Instead, she noted that New Democracy and PASOK managed to reduce the main pension from 1084 euros in 2010 to 863 euros when SYRIZA took over in January 2015.
“They have a lot of audacity to blame the current government, which is trying to prevent the collapse of the social security system that they destroyed. It would be good if everybody aligned in this national fight and not constantly take the side of the Troika,” she said.
New Democracy Responds Questioning SYRIZA’s Commitment
New Democracy’s interim President Yiannis Plakiotakis argued back, claiming that SYRIZA has often backtracked on its original commitments.
Plakiotakis asked SYRIZA and the government why it has not proceeded with a number of promises like leaving the memorandum, why they have note removed the ENFIA tax like they said they would, why they have not restored the minimum wage to 751 euros among other things.
“The truth is that the unfair and unethical plan for Social Security reform that the coalition presents, prescribes reductions with a new estimation in all pensions, that will reach 35%. It further reduces the pension that current workers will get, while it increases their contributions, something that impairs employment, strengthens undeclared employment and ultimately undermines the social security system,” Plakiotakis said.
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