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Victoria Mindova 

The European Union as we know it is declining, says the general secretary of the Communist Party of Greece Aleka Papariga. A day after Samaras’ speech, Papariga called a pre-election press conference in Zappeio Hall in Athens. She tried to clarify which path Greece should take if Greek Communists win the elections on 7 May.

Greece should leave the European Union and write off 100% of the debt. "Then, we will not need the euro as a currency. The single currency is a commitment that can be not only financial but also economic and social. Sooner or later, the European Union will end in the form we know it," Papariga forecasted. "It will be transformed into a new formation, in which the member states within the union will have made alliances with states outside it in order to achieve their own private interests." She noted that not only Greece but also Portugal or Ireland would most likely be excluded in the near future.

"Therefore, it is better to leave the union now setting our own conditions rather than to wait to be thrown out. When this time comes, it will be a real tragedy for the Greek people," said the general secretary of the Communist Party. In her opinion, exiting the euro area is the logical continuation of the policy against the memorandum. Papariga stressed that the fiscal problems of the single currency are pushing not only Greece but also other member states of the Union.

"I think people will eventually believe in themselves in order to make the right choice. The people will be the main character in the major changes, not KKE. We will simply be in the forefront," promises Papariga. Aleka Papariga calls all those frustrated by the policy of PASOK and New Democracy to vote for the Communist Party of Greece, the KKE. "Everybody knows our positions. They do not change from night to morning. We have a constant position on all important issues and people know it." She does not believe that the Communist Party will be elected for the first party during the upcoming elections, but she is sure that sooner or later, the political model in Greece will be left without alternatives and then, it will be people’s turn (with the political vote for the KKE) to rule. Papariga accused the last government of ignoring the Communist Party’s proposals, although they were not motivated by ideological prejudices. "We submitted to Parliament proposals for amending the laws on pensions and health funds. Both were rejected," she complained.

Papariga sharply attacked the positions of the Radical Left SYRIZA, the leader of which said he is ready to ally with Panos Kamenos’ newly formed centre-right party Independent Greeks in order to seize the power from PASOK and New Democracy. "We will not participate in any alliances and coalitions because we will betray the trust of people," said Papariga. She insists that those promising to go to Brussels to renegotiate the loan conditions, are lying and stressed that the KKE is against the whole logic of lending to the country by the International Monetary Fund and the European Union member states.