Tsipras launches election campaign

The leader of SYRIZA spoke of an electoral encounter with the ruthless class rival - vested interests, big interests, bank thievery and their political representatives.

“Anyone who believes that tragedy is happiness may choose (Prime Minister Antonis) Samaras, favored by (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel,” Tsipras said, adding, “whoever believes that Greece is in a humanitarian crisis and that something must be done for that, will join our ranks.”

Indirectly criticising the government for accusing it of siding with terrorism - “seeing in our faces monsters, extremists, fortune hunters, and followers of violence” - Tsipras also criticised anyone drawing comparisons between SYRIZA and PASOK.

“A psychiatrist is necessary to diagnose what the problem is of those who collaborate closely on memorandums with PASOK and then turn around to accuse us of becoming like PASOK. I’m sorry, they are committing another historical error,” he said.

Speaking on the second round of local elections, the party leader said SYRIZA would clearly vote for Communist Party of Greece (KKE) candidates if none of his party were available: “In any corner of Greece, if there are no forces SYRIZA supports in the second round, and wherever a KKE candidate runs opposite a government candidate, we shall support KKE’s candidate.”