The meeting of SYRIZA’s Parliamentary Group concluded shortly before 17.00 (Athens time) with the much anticipated announcement of SYRIZA’s candidate for the position of the President of the Republic. The Prime Minister nominated in his speech former ND Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos for President, a choice that came as a surprise to many.

Justifying his decision, the PM underlined that the Left was never arrogant in crucial times and never claimed high distinctions for itself, noting that the new President has to have democratic sensitivity, display patriotic responsibility and enjoy the parliament’s recognition.

PM Tsipras also commented in his speech on the recent developments with regard to the negotiations between Greece and the country’s European partners at yesterday’s Eurogroup.

“Greek citizens no longer feel the object of disdain and humiliation. Greece can no longer be treated as a colony. Greeks cannon be treated as Europe’s pariahs,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras noted at the beginning of his speech.

Responding to German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble’s statements that he feels sorry for the Greeks and their irresponsible government, the PM stressed that the German minister “lost his temper and spoke disparagingly of the Greek people.”

“I would like to point out (to him) that he should instead feel sorry for the peoples who choose to bow down” Tsipras said, underlying however that Greece has no dispute with the German people and that the country has received may messages of solidarity from German citizens.

With regard to a cartoon published by Avgi newspaper showing the German FinMin dressed in a Nazi uniform, Tsipras said that it was an “unfortunate moment” and that no one is entitled to joke about this dark chapter of the human history.

Commenting on the status of negotiations between the Greek government and the country’s creditors, the leftist leader said that the Greek side seeks a solution, not a rift. Moreover, he underlined that, although the Greek Government was willing to sign the initial draft that was submitted in yesterday’s Eurogroup, the second document that replaced it was designed to push Greece into non-compliance.