Galery

1

Marietta Giannakou is a longtime politician from New Democracy, former Minister of Health in the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis (1990-1993) and of Education in the government of Kostas Karamanlis (2004-2009), and a former MEP from the European People's Party (2010-2014). Marietta Giannakou talks with Maria S. Topalova.

All expected that SYRIZA would be the first political force after the elections, but not with such a significant lead. How would you explain the outcome of the elections?

Indeed, the difference is great but personally it is what I expected. This is because the previous government was pressed to take very hard measures in order for Greece not to go bankrupt. These measures are not pleasant for the people. There is a group of Greeks, especially in the middle class, who believe that they have lost everything and have nothing more to lose, so they have voted for SYRIZA despite their fear. Very often, in such elections, people try to elect someone who will probably do something different. Well, this person cannot do anything beyond certain limits. The problem of SYRIZA is that it has made a lot of promises that it cannot fulfil. However, we have democracy and this is the new government. It is a coalition and that is good, not bad. I hope that it will carry out a policy that will unite the Greeks and have support from the entire political spectrum.

Which of his campaign promises is Alexis Tsipras able to fulfil and which ones cannot he keep?

Forgiveness of the foreign debt cannot be achieved because it is payable to different countries and the opinion of the national parliaments and political parties should be taken into account. Conversely, there can be negotiations on rescheduling it and on reducing the interest rates. I do not believe Tsipras will fulfil his social programme as it is worth more than 10 billion euro a year. I believe that SYRIZA will have a realistic view of the problems as soon as it faces them. Because we all have good intentions, we all want people to live as well as possible. The question is whether we can fulfil the good intentions. I wish for them to fulfil some of the things they have promised as a government, to try to achieve them. We, who believe in Europe, are here too, to show support and keep Greece in Europe.

Are there options for any other tactics in the negotiations with Greece’s lenders?

There are no significant options because, as you know, the institutional bodies of the European Union have quite precisely regulated some situations over the past five years. Not only have they changed the contract for stability and development but they have also taken many other decisions to protect the euro zone from some fears. I mean concerns such as the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in the United States. Countries cannot easily renounce what has been agreed, the laws and regulations of the European Union. Naturally, I suppose the attitude of our partners and allies to a Greek government formed after elections will be the same. I have no doubt about it, we are all democrats and have experience from the long history of Europe, which has brought prosperity and progress to the continent, despite today's problems.

Can there be a future for Greece outside the euro zone and outside the European Union?

No, there cannot be, neither outside Europe nor outside the euro zone. Greece must be able to adjust at all costs to the difficulties that it has, with the help of its allies. Very difficult years are in store for us, nothing will be easy. But there is no life for Greece outside Europe.