Tsipras sees national polls in early 2015
SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has once again indicated that his leftist party will try to trigger early national elections in Greece by blocking the conservative-led government’s nomination for a new President of the Republic.
“In the begging of 2015 we will have elections,” Tsipras said in an interview with CNBC in Como, Italy, predicting that the New Democracy/PASOK government will find it very hard to get the minimum of 180 votes it needs to elect someone to succeed current President Karolos Papoulias.
A political changeover in Greece, the leftist leader said, was necessary to put an end to the “unacceptable” results of economic austerity.
“I think it is necessary to change policy. And I can’t see any other option rather than to have elections and change government and to have a new majority in Parliament in order to renegotiate that with out partners,” Tsipras said in reference to Greece’s international lenders.
Speaking to CNBC, the leftist leader also sought to ease concerns of a SYRIZA victory in Greece.
“It is important for everybody to understand that the political change in Greece is not a threat for Europe, but a challenge for Europe: to change policy and to try to find a common viable solution to our common problem,” Tsipras said.
“The European crisis needs European solutions,” he said.
