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After accusing the administration of one of the largest Greek banks - Eurobank EFG, of  threatening its employees with layoffs if they vote for the Coalition of the Radical Left, SYRIZA started scolding journalists as well.

The Radical Left blamed the media for 'misrepresentation and under-coverage" of Alexis Tsipras’ visits in France and Germany. Meanwhile, they also announced that they “will break the vicious cycle that exists in the media" and will make a clear and transparent procedure for the licensing of television channels.

On the occasion of Alexis Tsipras’ European tour organized was a special informal meeting with journalists and its goal was for SIRIZA’s leadership to send a message to large publishers and owners of TV channels, as well as to journalists themselves, who according to the Radical Left are "deliberately speculating".

At this meeting the present journalists were subjected to the reproof of the Radical Left because of the manner in which the meetings of the party’s leader Alexis Tsipras in Europe were represented. Moreover, the party was implying that the media is not following the rules of objective journalism.

The chairman of SYRIZA’s communicative strateg,y Vassilis Moulopoulo, made accusations of a "fundamental breach of journalistic ethics during their coverage of the visit”. Meanwhile, on the occasion of Tsipras’ famous name-calling (he called the French President Francois Hollande "Hollandreou") Moulopoulos stressed that this name-calling was characterized as inappropriate only in Greece. "What was presented here as inappropriate has not happened elsewhere, even in France, where people did not consider this as an insult to the French President", said the chairman of SYRIZA’s communicative strategy, who also added that "the reality was completely distorted" by suggestions that France were offended by the name-calling "Hollandreou”. In fact, says Moulopoulos, contrary to common information, Alexis Tsipras’ visits were assessed as constructive and the results are positive as proven by the great interest shown by foreign media.

Moulopoulos attacked also the "vicious cycle in the media" which he described as follows: "Money for the production of information - information for the production of policies - policies for the production of money." As he said "this vicious cycle, has been prevailing for the past 25 years and has created a political system. Evangelos Venizelos called it “rotten” and this cycle is afraid of a possible government led by SYRIZA. We will stop this vicious cycle, because we want healthy media."

However, Moulopoulos stressed that "we do not want to shut down the TV channels and newspapers," and added that "everything will be done according to the conditions of the market".

Licensing of television channels

In this regard Moulopoulos noted that "TV channels are working with temporary licences and are illegal under the constitution". He also said that " a normal license will be made". "Free licences will not be given away anymore," he said, citing comments from the International Monetary Fund, according to which the introduction of regulations in the licensing of television stations will give the country 500 million Euros, "in other words -more than the 325 million Euros, which were needed by political leaders in order not to impose additional layoff measures".

"Those who argue that the memorandum should be followed to the last point, should not skip IMF’s recommendation regarding granting licences."

Acceptable solution by all for Greece

As to the policy frameworks of the European visit of Alexis Tsipras, Vassilis Moulopoulos said that "SYRIZA has started a discussion in Europe, which until now had never been initiated."

According to the Radical Left, the conclusion that can be drawn from these meetings is that "all agree that the collapse of Greece, means disintegration of the Euro" and that "everyone talks about finding a solution - acceptable to all, and for Greece itself”.

As Moulopoulos pointed out, what was said to the delegation of SYRIZA is: "Apply the arrangements, which have the status of contracts and come to discuss what we can change." He also said that "our European partners have insisted on structural reforms and have agreed that the austerity measures and cuts must be stopped."

Vassilis Moulopoulos also noted (apparently meaning Tsipras’ followers) that "everyone told us that this memorandum is already dead, and they understand this fact". Furthermore, on the occasion of Tsipras’ meetings, which were not reflected in the public domain Moulopoulos stressed that SYRIZA’s leader met with Jean Pisani-Ferry, an adviser to the French Government and the outcome of this meeting was the view that there are similar views when it comes to changing austerity policies.