Instead of tamping down the concerns of the Greek and European public opinion, the article of the Prime Minister in the French daily Le Monde reignites the debate regarding a possible clash and conflict between Greece and its partners. What Mr. Tsipras must realize is that he is not the crusader for a “new Europe”, but the Prime Minister of a country at the edge of bankruptcy, which needs an immediate return to growth.
His ministers, the ministers that he appointed, have done absolutely nothing to fight social inequalities and tackle unemployment, unless he considers that appointing “his own guys” in every possible position in the public sector is an act of social justice. Therefore, beautiful words about something new that will make our life better is a school essay and has nothing to do with the current needs of society.
Other than that, with the article in Le Monde, Alexis Tsipras announces which measures and decisions are red lines and taboos for his government:
- “We have agreed to complete, with some minor modifications, the privatization program”. Which are these privatizations? And, which are these minor modifications?
- We have agreed on “major reforms in the insurance system”, leading to “unification of social insurance funds and abolition of early retirement”. Which are these major changes, who benefits and who will bear the cost?
- “We have agreed on a major reform in the VAT,” as well as e-gambling taxation, special luxury taxes, extraordinary taxes on very high profits. Has SYRIZA finally defined who is “very rich” and what are “very high profits”? And, which is this major reform of the VAT? The one promoted by Dragasakis, the one promoted by Varoufakis or the one proposed by SYRIZA factions?
2 June 2015
