ND leader: Completion of review not enough to counteract recessionary measures
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
The completion of Greece’s program review by its lenders is not enough by itself to compensate for the recessionary impact of the measures agreed, New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday during a speech at an Economist conference in Athens.
“Those who claim this don’t understand what’s happening in the real economy,” he said. “Some people claim the government has transformed into a belated proponent of liberal reforms. It's like claiming Nigel Farage has become pro-European!” he added and continued “I want to be clear. The completion of the review is a temporary diversion from the Avenue of populism that the Greek government marches onto. A political maneuver to survive and stay in power.”
Mitsotakis went on to say that all Greek parties have in the past succumbed to populism, including ND, but noted that his party’s “divorce from populism is permanent”. “Today, ND says things that can be done and those that cannot [be done] are not said.”
He also spoke for the need for a new deal with Greece’s creditors whom he criticized for accepting the completion of the review with measures based on the imposition of new taxes. Mitsotakis said the target for a 3.5 pct primary surplus is unfeasible and predicted that the targets won’t be achieved.
Commenting on Thursday’s British referendum on whether to stay in the EU, he said: “I truly hope a vote in favour of staying will give Europe an opportunity for some honest self-criticism. A new European political narrative is urgently needed. A narrative that will inspire European citizens and strengthen their belief in the usefulness of the Union.”
He also said this narrative should reconnect the European middle class with politics and warned about the wave of populism and xenophobia sweeping Europe.
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