Main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras, addressing an event of his party’s parliamentary group on Thursday called for a “wide and open popular front” to oppose a bill on the partial privatisation of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) and prevent it from passing.

Alexis Tsipras reiterated his invitation to other political leaders in the view of possible elections. The event was attended by independent members of parliament and trade union representatives. Although the Democratic Left party refused to attend, members of the Independent Greeks and ANTARSYA party were present.

Tsipras referred also to the song of ’30s “Which side are you on” and added that “They all have to tell us which side they are on; memorandum or society, austerity or growth, democracy or authoritarianism?”

Tsipras talked about the PPC issue and said that “what we are attempting today is to achieve the widest possible social and political rallying on the most basic of targets: to prevent the sale of PPC, an enterprise of strategic importance for the Greek economy and the country’s security. To prevent the looting of our country’s mineral wealth. To protect the citizens, the consumers from a new raid on rates,”.

SYRIZA’s leader further said “and in order to achieve all this, it is self-evident it is necessary for us to leave what separates us and focus on what unites us, forming a wide open popular front with the aim of the bill on the so-called small PPC not passing,”.

Tsipras explained that what is necessary is “a big and strong PPC that will operate under the guidelines of making the country self-sufficient in energy and of the needs of the Greek people. It requires the implementation of a national energy plan that will take into consideration both the economy but respect the environment as well”.

He also pointed out that the government’s options for PPC did not secure any job at all over the next five years while there would be no economic benefit whatsoever for the consumer, as international experience shows.