Venizelos proposes eight points for post-election cooperation
PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos has sent to the leaders of the other parties competing in the June 17 elections an eight-point plan he believes could form the basis for creating a unity government.
Venizelos?s plan, which he calls one of ?national shared responsibility?, is based on the following points:
1. Creating a unity government that will be in place until at least the European Parliament elections of 2014.
2. For all parties in the government to take part in the attempt to renegotiate the most onerous terms of the EU-IMF bailout.
3. Extending the fiscal adjustment period by three years (from 2014 to 2017).
4. Safeguarding the sustainability of Greek public debt.
5. To restart the discussion about structural reforms.
6. To agree on a new, simple and socially just taxation system.
7. To agree that Greece needs investment and support for jobs and the real economy.
8. To strengthen the social insurance system.
The proposals made by Venizelos were similar to a seven-point plan unveiled by Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis on Sunday.
In a press conference on Sunday, Venizelos agreed comments made by Luxembourg Prime Minister and Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker, who said that austerity measures in Greece have placed a disproportionate burden on the less wealthy members of society. ?I don?t see any rich people in Greece crying,? Juncker told a German radio station.
Venizelos added that Juncker had helped Greece as head of the Eurogroup.
The PASOK leader admitted that his party was going through a ?transitional phase? but had not resigned itself to third position in the upcoming elections.
Venizelos added that he would be meeting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Monday. In response to questions about Spain asking for loans to held recapitalize its banks, Venizelos said it would be wrong for people to think that Madrid would not have to impose austerity policies. He said that Spain and Italy are already applying a fiscal adjustment program similar to Greece’s.
