PM Tsipras calls opposition parties to rally behind government efforts

The Monday evening discussion in Parliament, which the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called in order to inform the political parties of the progress of the negotiations with Greece’s creditors, ended in tension and with the departure of main opposition party New Democracy.

The departure was prompted by the decision of the President of Parliament Zoi Konstantopoulou to allow the Alternate Minister of Administrative Reform Giorgos Katrougalos to take the stand and respond to accusations, in relation to recent revelations regarding his legal practice, which he claimed was part of a plan to undermine the government.

Earlier, Mr. Tsipras called for the opposition parties to support the government’s efforts in the current negotiations with the country’s creditors and partners. The Prime Minister outlined his government’s “red lines” and argued that he would not accept any further pension and wage cut, or the implementation of any recessionary measures.

Mr. Tsipras further stated that he would not accept the deregulation of collective dismissals, any increase of the VAT in food or medicine, nor would he agree to the further “selling off” of public assets. He reassured that his government was not negotiating a “third bailout”, as argued by the opposition and questioned why the opposition demanded one, when the creditors do not.

Main opposition leader Antonis Samaras accused the Prime Minister of calling the discussion in Parliament only to address his party’s left-wing faction and insisted that the goal was to “elicit” the opposition’s consent in an ongoing negotiation with an unknown outcome. Mr. Samaras underlined that while his part had the intention of hearing out the government – and pledged to support initiatives that will favor Greek positions – his party received insults.

Likewise, PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos criticized the government for forcing the main opposition party to depart “which in itself constitutes a problem of implementing the Constitution”. The leader of The River Stavros Theodorakis was also critical of government and accused Mrs. Konstantopoulou of not living up to expectations as President of Parliament.