Galery

1

Speaking to the Economic Policy Committee, when discussing the draft budget for 2013, Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras characterized it as a powerful weapon in the negotiations and urged lawmakers to vote "for". According to Stournaras, the coming weeks are critical and the wrong choice could lead Greece to an extraordinary default and an exit from the eurozone, with unpredictable consequences. The Minister pointed out that it would be unfair and unreasonable to abandon the efforts at a time when conditions are changing, and that, in addition, there was no alternative.

The discussion of the Economic Committee began with a confrontation between SYRIZA and New Democracy. The chairman Antonis Bezas said, addressing SYRIZA, that these measures will be the last, that no Santa Claus miracles can be expected and no solutions outside Europe can be sought. For his part, SYRIZA deputy Evklidis Tsakalotos replied that it is easier to believe in Santa Claus than to believe that these measures will be the last. He stressed that the old model of the social state, whatever the shortcomings, is now being replaced by nothing. According to him, the rise in the export sector and foreign investment envisaged in the draft, may not justify the optimistic forecasts, as well as the medium-term programme, which foresees a 3.5% development in 2016.

PASOK deputy Filippos Sahnidis addressed the Democratic Left, asking its deputies not to step back and to continue their mutual way, emphasizing that it is not right to stay together in good times and to be divided during the bad. According to him, PASOK has made many concessions and has paid a great price. And though for the party it would be easier to remind New Democracy of what they had talked about before the elections, they are nevertheless supporting the government because it is the only way for the country to survive and to remain in the eurozone.

Answering Sahnidis, Asiminia Ksirotiri of the Democratic Left said the party grades its priorities. She stressed that the public might suffer more, if it is convinced that the sacrifices are fair and they will not evaporate because of the neo-liberal stubbornness, adding that the party is cautious about the draft.

Notis Marias of Independent Greeks, said that this is a draft of the memorandum and the Troika, which is interested only in how to pay creditors. He said it was an attack on Greek society that leads to nowhere and will result in an even greater decline, unemployment, poverty. The project supports the recapitalization of banks with the old shareholders in their leadership. Marias predicted that the budget cannot be implemented because the government will collapse in a short time.

In turn Ilias Panayotaros of Golden Dawn accused the government of not doing anything about the secret accounts abroad. According to him, the state funds thousands of jobs for foreigners at the expense of the Greeks, and besides it does not exercise any control on the incoming Bulgarians and Romanians who receive Greek pensions without contributing anything to the social security system.

Nikos Karatanasopoulos of the Communist Party called the draft a guillotine for the citizens. He said that the people have two choices: one is the road serving the capital, and the other is the road serving the needs of the people.

Meanwhile, PASOK's Chairman Evangelos Venizelos started getting in touch with members of PASOK who have expressed opposition or concerns about the voting of the package, like Kostas Skandalidis and Markos Bolaris.

In parallel, it became clear that Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras, together with Employment Minister Yiannis Vroutsis, is planning a meeting on Sunday with the team of PASOK, to inform them of the package of measures, and then Stournaras will meet the parliamentary group of New Democracy.