Tsipras attacks gov't over economic aid policy, foreclosure issue

In a teleconference, Tsipras said his proposals added more details to the party's 'Standing Upright' plan to support the economy and society during the pandemic crisis, party sources said.

The pandemic has brought a lot of issues out in the open, he said, that call for vigilance and for "a new social contract that prioritizes human beings over profits." Charging the government with the intention of trying to privatize public health, he said that the NHS system has to be restructured, by public demand. "As government, Syriza managed to stop the NHS' demise and therefore we did not lose more people (to the virus) because there was a basic infrastructure in place," the former premier noted.

Revealing that he is not optimistic at all about the future, especially from September on, he charged the government with adopting 'random measures' and not using the cash buffer Syriza left behind to introduce across-the-board solutions. Instead of spending the amount now, by September it will be too late and "we will find ourselves in a massive recession, shut businesses and unemployment," he said.

Tsipras accused the government of using legal acts to pass decisions to change the labor market on behalf of private interests, while providing no public accountability. "A few inadequate programs have allowed 5 to 7 businesses to make nearly 36 million euros" when more funding could be saved through NSRF and the benefit of 800 euros distributed to more professional sectors, the Syriza leader said.

Commenting also on the gradual reopening of local courts along with the land transaction services (ypothikofylakeia), he said "there is very strong pressure by the banks and funds" to force the foreclosures and lead to auctions, as the protection of main homes runs out on April 30.