SYRIZA chief meets with Olli Rehn, warns of austerity fallout
Leftist SYRIZA opposition leader Alexis Tsipras on Thursday warned about the social and economic implications of the country’s austerity program, adding that Greek society is near breaking point.
Tsipras was speaking in Brussels after a meeting with Olli Rehn, Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, during which he presented him with the so-called “Black Book of the Memorandum” which was prepared by his anti-bailout party.
The leftist leader also warned the conservative-led government against a contentious property tax bill and the prospect of lifting a ban on foreclosures, as demanded by the troika of foreign lenders. Both measures, Tsipras said, will result in “unprecedented social tension.”
“Red lines are drawn by society… not by the prime minister,” Tsipras said while calling for a restructuring of Greek debt coupled with a set of growth-inducing measures to pull the country out of recession.
“[Greece] needs a restructuring of its debt, that would lead to a large part being written off, with a moratorium on debt repayments that will be linked to its growth rate,” Tsipras said.
