A text released by the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party from its headquarters in Koumoundourou Street criticizes the conservative New Democracy (ND) leadership and states:

1) ND Prime Minister Antonis Samaras speaks of a viable solution but undermines Greece’s position to negotiate. His claims that Greek debt is sustainable is against the view of the majority of international economists.

2) The only way in which the Greek debt can be sustainable is if it doesn’t suffocate efforts for development. Mr. Samaras’ developmental model is that of countries like Bulgaria and Albania!

3) Mr. Samaras had promised 30% development by 2021, in six years, without accounting to the GDP reduction by 25%. There have been huge cuts to jobs, social welfare and public investments that cancel out development. The promise of 770,000 new jobs is a promise that had been given a year and a half ago.

4) Mr. Samaras promised to attract investments, however the privatization of public property cannot be considered productive investments as they do not lead to expansion of productivity.

5) Mr. Samaras said that more investments would come to Greece through the reduction of tax in corporations and the flexibility of employment relations. This means lower wages so that the Greek economy could compete with Bulgaria and Albania as a means of drawing companies for unskilled woerkers. Are these the models that Mr. Samaras wants?

6) Mr. Samaras promised “Competitiveness Everywhere!” as a lever for development. Development is measured through the increase of exports and in investment. Neither of the two occured. Competitiveness requires clear rules for businesses. The conservative ND-socialist PASOK coalition has frozen monopolies and obstruct immediate investment to the country. Whenever Mr. Samaras speaks of Tax ameliorations, Greek citizens need to search through their pockets.

7) The reminder of Mr. Samaras that the higher tax rate has been reduced from 45% to 42% hides the fact that the tax to lower and middle incomes has been incrased. The lowest rate has increased from 10% to 22%, the non-taxable amount for freelancers and farmers has been abolished.

8) Mr. Samaras’ promise that there would be no more pension cuts come in direct conflict with ND Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis e-mail to the troika of Greece’s international creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. The e-mail pledges to reduce pensions, basic funds and increase requirements for those born after 1975. It is considered shameful that after so many huge pension cuts that the government commit itself to a pension freeze until 2017.

9) Mr. Samaras has committed himself to the implementation of the zero-gap clause, the sustainability factor and the new formula for lump sum payments. All of these mean additional cuts that have already been pledged to the troika.

10) In his e-mail, Mr. Hardouvelis pledges to create a new salary chart and the reduction of wages for new recruits to the public sector.

11) Mr. Samras wants to impose employer lockouts, free group dismissals in the public sectors and continue dismissals in the public sector as well as limit the right for strike action and trade union rights.

12) Mr. Samaras mocks trade unions and trade unionists. The two former major parties – conservative ND and socialist PASOK – have created and nurtured the government unionists that interplay with their party leaderships. They have slandered and subverted trade union rights of workers and have neutralized major federations and the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE).