Tsipras: We took initiatives amid a stifling climate

Regarding the negotiation, Tsipras noted that a sober evaluation of the situation must be made and underlined that we should be proud of the battle we gave.

He declined having said before the elections that he would tear the memoranda with one law. "We did not promise the Greek people that things would be easy," he said.

"We voted a law on humanitarian crisis, we managed to restore major social injustices, we voted the law for the 100 installments 'against the institutions' will', we had the opportunity to vote for progressive laws beyond the fiscal framework. We took initiatives amid a stifling climate while negotiating. Let's not cancel the work of the government," the prime minister underlined.

"I had no other choice but to go to a referendum. It was a risky choice. The chances of losing the referendum were rather high, since the partners led things to the extremes and decided the closure of banks," Tsipras said and added: "It was a one way road because they gave us a deal with difficult-and in my view-unnecessary measures without a survival outlet."

Tsipras also said that what they wanted was to implement the three-year programme in five months. The resounding 'No' of the Greek people in the referendum revealed the harsh face of the partners and the lenders, the prime minister said and considered that the course of the eurozone would be different in the future.

The prime minister reiterated that the referendum did not concern the stay or exit from the eurozone. "We decided to hold a referendum when we were in Brussels. As soon as I came back to Athens, I called a government council, which I interrupted in order to brief (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel and (French President Francois) Hollande, and ask them to help us to its smooth conduct, which they promised. Merkel informed me that she would tell in public that the referendum is on 'euro or drachma.' I explained to her that this was not the issue of the referendum but she is allowed to have her own view. They did not keep their promise."

"If I had listened to my heart and packed it in while I was giving a battle for 17 hours, banks would have collapsed the following day," he underlined. "I continue to fight being aware that if I left, I would have to come back with worse terms. The prevailance of the protection the working classes, of the country and of the left instead of a vindictive politics, it was a good choice," he said.