Opposition dismisses Brussels deal
Opposition parties on Wednesday dismissed an agreement reached between Greece’s international creditors to reduce the country’s debt and release crucial rescue loans and poured scorn on the coalition government’s expressions of relief at the outcome.
“At a time when the country and society are being demolished, the celebratory tone of the prime minister reveals either ignorance of the risk or hypocrisy,” the main leftist opposition SYRIZA said in a statement issued after a televised address by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras late Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras claimed that the Eurogroup deal “does not include a viable plan for Greece and so is not a solution” and accused the conservative-led coalition of “following a strategy of subordination and being absent from negotiations.”
Communist Party leader Aleka Papariga said the agreement reached in Brussels was a “fragile compromise,” adding that “policy of the memorandum will be permanent through to 2030.” The Communist leader claimed that the new deal would lead to new austerity measures for the working class.
The Eurogroup deal was described by a spokesman for the right-wing Independent Greeks, Notis Marias, as an extension of Greece’s austerity drive through to 2040. “Not only does it not secure the viability of Greek debt but it puts at immediate risk the sustainability of Greek society itself,” he said, adding that it also “leaves open the prospect of a new haircut on bonds held by Greek insurance funds.”
