Karas sticking to his story on Tsipras

European parliament vice president Othmar Karas is sticking to his story concerning Alexis Tsipras that has caused an uproar in Greek political circles, Meanwhile his co-presenter, French socialist Liem Hoang Ngoc, in a written announcement buttressed Mr Tsipras.

“I will take back nothing of what I said, yesterday, about Alexis Tsipras,” the Austrian Christian-Democrat said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. It should be reminded that Mr Karas is the presenter of the report of a fact finding committee set up by the EU parliament to investigate the troika's interventions in crisis struck European countries under memorandums.

In very plain and straightforward language, Mr Karas had said, on Wednesday, that during an hour long meeting he had had with the head of Greek main opposition SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras, on 11 December (when Mr Tsipras presented Mr Karas and other EU officials with the “Black Book of the Memorandums”) the latter said absolutely nothing of his party's aims or plans.

Asked for his party's suggestions to amend the memorandums, or what he would do differently, Mr Tsipras said nothing coherent, by Mr Karas' accounts, save to voice support for Mr Othmar's commission’s work and the empowerment of the European parliament. However, on Thursday, Mr Karas noted that he had not come to Greece to assess Mr Tsipras, nor to set him right.

However, Liem Hoang Ngoc in his announcement noted that Mr Tsipras has given a written detailed economic and social account, as well as political proposals. This was an obvious reference, though, to the “Black Book of the Memorandums” that Mr Tsipras passed out in Brussels. Mr Liem Hoang Ngoc essentially backed Mr Tsipras, but not by refuting Mr Karas, as some Greek media have surmised.