Opposition parties saw European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici’s loose stance while in Athens as the result of his personal ambitions (to become president of the European Commssion) and his alleged bias in favour of the government.
During Moscovici’s visit to parliament, some MPs lashed out at the Commissioner because he is speaking of a clean exit from the memorandum, whereas there are more painful measures to come, which they view as a fourth fiscal memorandum.
Moscovici reportedly was strongly criticised in private meetings with New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Movement for Change leader Fofi Gennimata, and To Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis. .
Moscovici’ s suggestion that the planned pension cuts that are due to take effect in January, 2019, may be avoided also angered opposition parties.
New Democracy MP Kostis Hatzidakis was exceptionally angry in addressing Moscovici’s hints about scrapping pension cuts.
“There is not a single Greek citizen who wants pensions to be cut. But we must clarify certain things for all Greek citizens, and primarily pensioners. We have drafted our programme based on the country’s international agreements. If, Commissioner, you tell us that the agreement on pensions can be canceled, as well as other agreements, that is welcome, but we should know in order to adjust our political platform. There must be clear terms for all political parties and for all Greeks, and we must know how the country will move forward based on its international commitments,” Hatzidakis said.
New Democracy sources said that Moscovici, “adopted in an impermissible manner the government narrative of a clean exit, whereas Tsipras and Kammenos have bound the country with new, onerous measures over the coming years, and without funding.”
Dimitra Kroustalli
