The Minister of National Defense Panos Kammenos estimated that early elections would not benefit Greece and stressed that “some want to subjugate Greece” and do not have the political intention to come to an agreement. In his interview for Mega Channel, the outspoken Independent Greeks leader noted that although he is against early election, a referendum could be carried out, if an attempt is made to force Greece out of the Eurozone.
Mr. Kammenos supported the government’s negotiation efforts, stressing that they are in line with the fresh popular mandate it received in January’s elections and was confident of the outcome. He than attacked the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble for “his hostile stance towards the country”, in spite of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent statement that everything would be done so that Greece does not leave the euro. Mr. Kammenos warned that there will be no solution to the problems at hand, should the personal policy of German Finance Minister prevail, adding that many northern European countries are indifferent to what is going on in the south.
Furthermore, Mr. Kammenos underlined that the Greek side has taken many steps forward regarding reforms and changed in the public sector, while explaining that the policy of “internal devaluation, over-taxation and cuts in wages and pensions seems to have failed, something which the international creditors admit”.
He also criticized the previous Samaras-led government for “making no effort” in the negotiations with the creditors. Mr. Kammenos commented that Mr. Samaras was being sent bills which his government submitted for discussion in Parliament in English, because it did not have the time to translate them in Greek.
