The State Minister Nikos Pappas argued that it was likely that the government proposal for the critical social security reform will receive support from the opposition when tabled in Parliament.
Mr. Pappas, who gave an interview to the Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper, argued that the government reform proposal will “put an end to the catastrophe” since it avoids any further cuts by securing further resources and denounced New Democracy for “not submitting new proposals” while persisting upon the bailout proposals that were rejected by the referendum.
When asked to comment on recent estimation from Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Mr. Pappas responded that it was likely a precursor of the pressure to come for further measures. The State Minister further explained that the bailout agreement is being implemented and cited the positive fiscal results.
“The era of deifying private initiative and the full retreat of the state from public infrastructure is long gone” he underlined and challenged the notion that statism was to blame for the current problems. Instead, Mr. Pappas further explained, it was clientelism was the problem.
Finally, he noted that the government has always had its sites on expanding its majority in Parliament and estimated that it is possible to attract others away from their neoliberal choices.
