Greece: 'To authoritarianism and austerity, we respond with democracy' -- SYRIZA calls referendum on EU austerity

Posted by George Sophie Flourentzou on Monday, June 29, 2015

Massive protest against austerity, Athens, June 29, 2015.

For more analysis and discussion on SYRIZA's struggle against austerity, click HERE

Speech by Alexis Tsipras, prime minister of Greece; translation by Stathis Kouvelakis

June 26, 2015 -- Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal, first posted at Kouvelakis' Facebook page

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Fellow Greeks,

For six months now, the Greek government has been waging a battle in conditions of unprecedented economic suffocation to implement the mandate you gave us on January 25, 2015.

The mandate we were negotiating with our partners was to end the austerity and to allow prosperity and social justice to return to our country. It was a mandate for a sustainable agreement that would respects both democracy and common European rules and lead to the final exit from the crisis.

Throughout this period of negotiations, we were asked to implement the agreements concluded by the previous governments with the Memoranda, although they were categorically condemned by the Greek people in the recent elections. However, not for a moment did we think of surrendering, that is to betray your trust.

After five months of hard bargaining, our partners, unfortunately, issued at the Eurogroup the day before yesterday an ultimatum to Greek democracy and to the Greek people. An ultimatum that is contrary to the founding principles and values of Europe, the values of our common European project.

Image removed.

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.

They asked the Greek government to accept a proposal that accumulates a new unsustainable burden on the Greek people and undermines the recovery of the Greek economy and society, a proposal that not only perpetuates the state of uncertainty but accentuates even more the social inequalities. The proposal of institutions includes: measures leading to further deregulation of the labour market, pension cuts, further reductions in public sector wages and an increase in VAT [an indirest tax, like the GST] on food, dining and tourism, while eliminating tax breaks for the Greek islands.

These proposals directly violate European social and fundamental rights: they show that concerning work, equality and dignity, the aim of some of the partners and institutions is not a viable and beneficial agreement for all parties but the humiliation the entire Greek people.

These proposals mainly highlight the insistence of the International Monetary Fund in the harsh and punitive austerity and make more timely than ever the need for the leading European powers to seize the opportunity and take initiatives which will finally bring to a definitive end the Greek sovereign debt crisis, a crisis affecting other European countries and threatening the very future of European integration.

Fellow Greeks,

Right now, weighs on our shoulders the historic responsibility towards the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek people for the consolidation of democracy and national sovereignty. Our responsibility for the future of our country. And this responsibility requires us to answer the ultimatum on the basis of the sovereign will of the Greek people.

A short while ago at the cabinet meeting, I suggested the organisation of a referendum, so that the Greek people are able to decide in a sovereign way. The suggestion was unanimously accepted.

Tomorrow, the House of Representatives will be urgently convened to ratify the proposal of the cabinet for a referendum next Sunday, July 5, on the question of the acceptance or the rejection of the proposal of institutions.

I have already informed about my decision the president of France and the chancellor of Germany, the president of the European Central Bank, and tomorrow my letter will formally ask the European Union leaders and institutions to extend for a few days the current program in order for the Greek people to decide, free from any pressure and blackmail, as required by the Constitution of our country and the democratic tradition of Europe.

Fellow Greeks,

To the blackmailing of the ultimatum that asks us to accept a severe and degrading austerity without end and without any prospect for a social and economic recovery, I ask you to respond in a sovereign and proud way, as the history of the Greek people commands.

To authoritarianism and harsh austerity, we will respond with democracy, calmly and decisively. Greece, the birthplace of democracy will send a resounding democratic response to Europe and the world.

I am personally committed to respect the outcome of your democratic choice, whatever that is. And I’m absolutely confident that your choice will honor the history of our country and send a message of dignity to the world.

In these critical moments, we all have to remember that Europe is the common home of peoples. That in Europe there are no owners and guests. Greece is and will remain an integral part of Europe and Europe is an integral part of Greece. But without democracy, Europe will be a Europe without identity and without a compass.

I invite you all to display national unity and calm in order to take the right decisions. For us, for future generations, for the history of the Greeks. For the sovereignty and dignity of our people.

[Thanks to A Socialist in Canada.]

Submitted by Terry Townsend on Sat, 06/27/2015 - 19:41

Permalink

Opposition parties attack Tsipras on referendum
I Kathimerini, Athens, June 27 (Reuters)
<http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/06/2015_551570>

Greek political opposition parties attacked Prime Minister Alexis
Tsipras's decision to call a referendum on creditors' demands for a
cash-for-reforms deal, saying the move risked pushing the country out
of the European Union.

Socialist party PASOK, the junior partner in the previous coalition
government, called for Tsipras's resignation.

"Since Mr. Tsipras is unable to take responsible decisions, he ought
to resign and let citizens vote for their future via elections,"
PASOK's leader Fofi Genimmata said in a statement.

Centrist To Potami party blasted the leftist prime minister for his
decision to call a referendum, saying it would fight to keep the
country in the heart of Europe.

"Alexis Tsipras and (Independent Greeks leader) Panos Kammenos decided
to lead the lobby of the drachma, to take the country out of the
European Union and push it over the cliff," the party's leader Stavros
Theodorakis said in a statement.

"We will fight together for a strong Greece in the heart of Europe."

Conservative New Democracy said the government brought the country to
an impasse, isolating it from Europe, accusing Tsipras for throwing
the responsibility he himself could not bear to the shoulders of the
people.

"Mr. Tsipras today leads the country to a referendum with a the
ultimate question being a yes or no to Europe and he proposes a rift
with all our partners and an exit from the euro," former prime
minister Antonis Samaras said.

Submitted by Terry Townsend on Sun, 06/28/2015 - 19:59

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27 June 2015

The Greek prime minister says he wants the people of Greece to vote against accepting the creditors’ bailout proposal. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted Sunday (local time) that he wants a “No” result in the referendum that his government called for July 5. He also made similar statements in a speech to parliament. The parliament also approved the motion to hold the referendum on the proposed bailout accord with foreign creditors on Sunday morning after his speech.

“We will ask for a short extension of the program so the referendum can be held without pressure,” Tsipras said at the press conference Friday, adding that the government would respond to authoritarianism and austerity with “democracy, calmness and decisiveness.” On Sunday, Tsipras tweeted the referendum was a way to “honor" Greece’s sovereignty and “for the people to express their will.”

“Referendums have been used in Europe as a way for people to express their will. Were the French people told a #referendum wasn't allowed when they were voting on the EU constitution?” he wrote. He argued that some people saw the Greek situation as a “game,” but “the dignity of our people is not a game, 1.5 million unemployed people is not a game. Three million living in poverty is not a game.” “We have negotiated with our partners in earnest — with determination, decisiveness and dignity. We've been faced with the insistence, namely by the IMF, that we water down our proposals for taxing the wealthy … We were asked to once again place the burden on the shoulders of pensioners and workers,” Tsipras continued.

“With a clear "NO", we send a message that Greece is not going to surrender,” Tsipras concluded. Earlier this week, European leaders welcomed a new Greek budget, which included a handful of concessions from the government in Athens in exchange for new bailout funds. However, by Friday, it seemed unlikely Greece would agree to a bailout extension. Greece would have to agree to tax increases and cuts to pensions. Greece owes the International Monetary Fund US$1.7 billion by June 30, after the financial body twice bailed out Tsipras’ conservative predecessors.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Greeces-Tsipras-Wants-a-No-in-Referendum-20150627-0020.html.