Tsipras: “The Greek struggles for democracy, social justice and against austerity concern all Europeans”

The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras delivered a speech on Wednesday at the University of Athens, where he argued that the Greek War of Independence of 1821 was a “European event”.

Mr. Tsipras argued that “the Greek matter today is a European matter” and added that “the problems we experience today are both Greek and European. The battles which the Greek government is fighting for democracy, a social state, social justice and the restriction of the catastrophic austerity of the past years, are at the same time European battles that concern all the peoples of Europe”.

Later in his speech Mr. Tsipras noted that the anniversary of the War of Independence should act as a guide to tackle the current challenges with a clear mind, optimism and self-confidence. “When the people take their future in their hands, even when they are faced against powerful opponents, if they are on the right side, they must have the confidence to win” he added.

In reference to the European dimension of the War of Independence, the Prime Minister stressed that Greece is a part of Europe and that Greece and Europe have always interacted. He further explained that historically Greece has been a pioneer and influenced decisively by its relationship with Europe.

At the same time he underlined that Europe and Greece are not a single entity and distinguished between the Europe of democracy, freedom of ideas, solidarity and social contribution and the Europe of neoliberalism and coercive markets. Mr. Tsipras stated that we must be heirs of the pure and beautiful struggles for solidarity, equality, social contribution and democracy.

According to the Prime Minister the Greek War of Independence was the first movement of solidarity between the European nations, who struggled for independence and freedom against the hegemony of the Great powers of the time. Mr. Tsipras stressed that those powers treated the Greek cause as an unpredictable and dangerous subversion. Ultimately, Mr. Tsipras concluded, “the revolution of 1821 was a true child of the Enlightenment”.

The Rector of the University of Athens Thanos Dimopoulos, who prefaced the Prime Minister, focused on the contribution of the War of Independence on education. Mr. Dimopoulos explained that the revolution of 1821 “was a great struggle of the enslaved nation to preserve its language, traditions, national consciousness and religion”.