Govt spokesman says Greece has won a ‘battle’
Government spokesman G. Sakellaridis says that the “war” still remains to be won, however criticism of the government is groundlessGovernment Spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis told private SKAI TV on Monday that the Greek government has acted responsibly in representing the Greek people and in its dealings with Greece’s EU partners. He said that former finance minister Gikas Hardouvelis’ e-mail dealings with the troika of Greece’s creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund are a thing of the past.
He added that austerity has come to an end. Asked about Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) MEP Manolis Glezos’ statements criticizing the government’s agreement for a four-month extension stating that it is like “renaming” fish to meat, Sakellaridis said that this is not the case. “We don’t have a magic wand, we were working in an asphyxiating framework and we succeeded what the previous governments had failed to achieve in five years,” he said, adding that “we can’t say we’ve won the war, but a battle has been won.”
“We shouldn’t celebrate because a crucial period is coming where the government needs to prove its credibility in making the necessary changes,” he said. “The 100 installments settlement will make it easier for those who can pay some of their public debt and be of benefit to both themselves and the state.” He said that an increase to the minimum wage will be gradual so that small businesses can adjust to this and the government will return the institution of group negotiations
Government spokesman G. Sakellaridis says that the “war” still remains to be won, however criticism of the government is groundlessGovernment Spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis told private SKAI TV on Monday that the Greek government has acted responsibly in representing the Greek people and in its dealings with Greece’s EU partners. He said that former finance minister Gikas Hardouvelis’ e-mail dealings with the troika of Greece’s creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund are a thing of the past.
He added that austerity has come to an end. Asked about Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) MEP Manolis Glezos’ statements criticizing the government’s agreement for a four-month extension stating that it is like “renaming” fish to meat, Sakellaridis said that this is not the case. “We don’t have a magic wand, we were working in an asphyxiating framework and we succeeded what the previous governments had failed to achieve in five years,” he said, adding that “we can’t say we’ve won the war, but a battle has been won.”
“We shouldn’t celebrate because a crucial period is coming where the government needs to prove its credibility in making the necessary changes,” he said. “The 100 installments settlement will make it easier for those who can pay some of their public debt and be of benefit to both themselves and the state.” He said that an increase to the minimum wage will be gradual so that small businesses can adjust to this and the government will return the institution of group negotiations