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Concerning the negotiations
“…We were led to a difficult compromise, having exhausted all negotiating limits and margins. We reached the boundaries of the Greek economy and the banking system. But at the same time we also demonstrated the limits of Europe today as well, its limits and tolerances towards the democratic choice of its people … The conservative forces – there can be no doubt of this – achieved a Pyrrhic victory against the Greek Government, against the Greek people, against Greece. However, they know very well that they lost something very valuable: leadership, the sense of their leadership in the European and world public opinion …”
Concerning the next day:
“… Immediately after the approval of this last – on the basis of the agreement of 12th July – package of prerequisite actions by the Parliament, we are forced with the same tenacity and the same fighting spirit to negotiate again, in order to shape the terms of the next day, of the loan agreement.
And because the outcome of this negotiation will be instrumental, I take it as granted that we must take advantage of the cracks to which I referred earlier. We must try to take advantage of any possibility of political and social alliances in Europe, in order to achieve the best possible result.
To improve the final text of the agreement for the benefit of the great social majority, which acknowledges this fight, which shares our worries. And to which majority we owe today’s opportunity to change measures which have a direct negative impact, to improve them, to come up with countervailing measures, to claim funds so that large social groups may face the least possible negative impact …”
Concerning the “grexit” issue:
“… Obviously, for this to happen, it is a prerequisite that the “grexit” issue does not return to the table. Not by us. I mean by our partners. Because for some, this idea, this plan remains in their mind… Even now, a few days ago, at the meeting between the US Secretary of Treasury and the German Finance Minister, this very argument, the same idea, the same plan was tabled by the German side. And I say this because no matter what agreement one reaches, no matter the positive financing outlook one may have, no matter the prospects one might have of getting rid of the ghost that has been haunting the country for the last five years, if certain individuals keep returning to this issue deliberately, the ghost will never leave…”
- Concerning the debt’s restructuring:
“… The Agreement on which we will start negotiating tomorrow also includes something as important as what has been mentioned so far, and perhaps even more important: an explicit, clear commitment to debt rescheduling in order for it to become viable. And it is an important development. So far what was being discussed was whether this restructuring, rescheduling would take place. Today what is being discussed is not whether it will happen, but what will be its depth…”
Concerning the government’s initiatives:
“… Starting tomorrow, and in parallel with the negotiation, the emphasis of the government’s policy will be placed on four main areas in order to achieve the country’s progressive reconstruction.
The first area is the fight against corruption and vested interests. Today we published for public consultation purposes the bill which puts an end, at last, to the unaccountability of the vested interests and which establishes a system of transparency in the broadcasting landscape…
At the same time, we are taking the initiative to combat tax evasion through direct actions… And we are commencing the fight against corruption and organized crime, by finally allowing the Justice system to take a breath and to perform its duty. This is something, I must happily confess, which we have witnessed taking place on several occasions lately.
Furthermore, we are initiating a dialogue in order to promote important reforms and necessary changes regarding the political system. We are focusing on the promotion of targeted actions in support of the weakest social groups. And of course we are trying to attract direct investment into the country so as to offset the recessionary trends in the economy…”
Concerning the protection of primary residences from being auctioned:
“… I want to state from this podium and in the strongest possible terms that the changes to the Code of Civil Procedure which are being approved by the Parliament today and which will take effect on 1st January 2016 do not jeopardize the protection of primary residences… There will be no auction of primary residences. The protection of primary residences by this Government was and will continue being constant… None of the unemployed, the laborers, the lowly paid, the pensioners on low pensions and those who have got a mortgage in a working class neighborhood, in a poor neighborhood, in a deprived neighborhood will lose their house…”
“Lost fights are those which never took place!…” :
“…Some maintain that, in this context, it does not matter whether the Government is constituted by SYRIZA and ANEL or by the other parties who run the country during the previous years. Indeed, many times they even liken the presence of the Left in the government to an anxiety for positions of authority and to hold office.
I am saddened by these statements. However, I have no alternative but to comment on them.
As far as my own code of values is concerned, the presence of the Left in the government is not in order to seek high office. It is the stronghold of the interests of our people! A stronghold for the protection of those who have been wronged! A stronghold for the large class fights against vested interests within the country!
As far as I am concerned, I have no intention of abandoning this stronghold. We will not become cowards, nor will we ignore our responsibilities, nor will we become apologists for lost fights. Because the only lost fights are those which never took place!
The fights lying ahead will be given with the same fighting spirit, the same faith in our strength, the same dignity and they will be fights which will be won.”
