Tsipras – “It was not our choice to burden the middle class”

Answering a question about where the money will be found to finance the measures he announced, the president of SYRIZA, Mr. Alexis Tsipras, at the press conference, at the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair, referred to the criticism of the Prime minister, saying that the Greek Prime Minister has no right to criticize the SYRIZA party, as the current government is the one to destroy the middle class.

Moreover, he added that: “We had to burden the middle class during our tenure”. “It was not our choice, it was a national need to get out of the memorandums and settle the debt…” he noted and continued: “We left 37 billion in the public treasury, what does the Mitsotakis government leave? Just debts and nothing else.”

As for the financing of the measures he proposed, he said that “There is an opportunity to support the economy without the suffocating pressure of surpluses and the Stability Pact and because our country is borrowing cheaply, as well as because of the Recovery Fund.” “We must not miss this opportunity” as “at some point the budget constraints will return and then things will be more difficult” he added.

He said there is currently a European debate on what will happen with the EU after the pandemic, noting that southern countries should have a common ground, adding: “I do not know what the government’s position is… The government voted for a medium-term plan that includes a financial correction of nine points in two years, before the debate even opens. “