PM address during debate on tax and pension reforms bill

Replying to Mitsotakis' criticism of the proposed measures in the tax and pension reforms bill, which is to be voted on by lawmakers at the end of Sunday's debate, Tsipras accused the opposition of "having no proposals". 

"When you ask for elections without having any alternative proposal, anyone can understand the reason why you do this. Your concern is to save of your friends that face prosecution, some media owners that see the system of graft crumbling," he added, promising to fight corruption and set Greece back on its feet at all costs.

"For decades the pension funds were looted and the opposition recounts the myth that the pension system was derailed by a government that negotiated," he said. He said ND and the other parties in its camp were in a strategic impasse, on the one hand accusing the government of leading the country off the rails and on the other hand of giving in to the creditors demands.

He also pointed out that Mitsotakis, while criticising the government for pension cuts and reducing incomes, "had the bravery to say that ND's alternative proposal for exiting the crisis is to cut spending: in other words, cut salaries, pensions and lay off workers."

"For the first time the agreement, even though it is difficult, can be implemented," he said.

Tsipras insisted that the government would not cut main pensions by even a single euro, while pointing out that those now complaining of a "tax storm" had earlier gladly voted for measures amounting to 62 billion euros.

Greece's pension system had been irrational, socially unjust, labyrinthine and rife with political clientelism to begin with. After six years of economic recession it could not possibly survive without deep reforms, he said.

"With the bill we are voting on today, we aim to create a viable social insurance system that guarantees the pensions of all citizens and simultaneously does this with social justice, taking into account the difficult economic situation," he said. "We will not burden pensioners for the 13th time. This is what we promised in September," he added.

While the opposition was indulging in doom- and disaster-mongering, the government was working methodically on the negotiations and on a careful plan for the day after the review was completed, when the priority will be on the transition from extreme recession to growth with a social character and with protection for labour, Tsipras said.

Among others, he said the government's plan included the introduction of a stable tax rate for 12 years for those making investments above 20 million euros.

After six years in which the Eurogroup convened and discussed only austerity measures for Greece, Monday's Eurogroup will officially have a restructuring of debt on the agenda, the prime minister said and expressed hope that Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble will display the same constructive stance on this issue as Germany Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

Taking the stand to address Parliament after main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday said the main opposition party lacked "any kind of alternative proposal" and that Mitsotakis was in danger of making ND a "protest party". Replying to Mitsotakis' criticism of the proposed measures in the tax and pension reforms bill, which is to be voted on by lawmakers at the end of Sunday's debate, Tsipras accused the opposition of "having no proposals". 
"When you ask for elections without having any alternative proposal, anyone can understand the reason why you do this. Your concern is to save of your friends that face prosecution, some media owners that see the system of graft crumbling," he added, promising to fight corruption and set Greece back on its feet at all costs.
"For decades the pension funds were looted and the opposition recounts the myth that the pension system was derailed by a government that negotiated," he said. He said ND and the other parties in its camp were in a strategic impasse, on the one hand accusing the government of leading the country off the rails and on the other hand of giving in to the creditors demands.
He also pointed out that Mitsotakis, while criticising the government for pension cuts and reducing incomes, "had the bravery to say that ND's alternative proposal for exiting the crisis is to cut spending: in other words, cut salaries, pensions and lay off workers."
"For the first time the agreement, even though it is difficult, can be implemented," he said.
Tsipras insisted that the government would not cut main pensions by even a single euro, while pointing out that those now complaining of a "tax storm" had earlier gladly voted for measures amounting to 62 billion euros.
Greece's pension system had been irrational, socially unjust, labyrinthine and rife with political clientelism to begin with. After six years of economic recession it could not possibly survive without deep reforms, he said.
"With the bill we are voting on today, we aim to create a viable social insurance system that guarantees the pensions of all citizens and simultaneously does this with social justice, taking into account the difficult economic situation," he said. "We will not burden pensioners for the 13th time. This is what we promised in September," he added.
While the opposition was indulging in doom- and disaster-mongering, the government was working methodically on the negotiations and on a careful plan for the day after the review was completed, when the priority will be on the transition from extreme recession to growth with a social character and with protection for labour, Tsipras said.
Among others, he said the government's plan included the introduction of a stable tax rate for 12 years for those making investments above 20 million euros.
After six years in which the Eurogroup convened and discussed only austerity measures for Greece, Monday's Eurogroup will officially have a restructuring of debt on the agenda, the prime minister said and expressed hope that Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble will display the same constructive stance on this issue as Germany Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.