Conservative New Democracy (ND) leader Vangelis Meimarakis said that the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras was trying to find excuses not to cooperate with his party following the elections. During an interview with private MEGA TV on Tuesday, he asked: “Why doesn’t he want to cooperate with us if he is second? Is it so that he can criticise us while in opposition?”

“He wants to be on the outside hurling stones,” said Meimarakis, while criticising Tsipras for calling elections in the first place. Regarding Tsipras recent statements concerning a “grand coalition” with centrist Potami or socialist PASOK, Meimarakis said that Tsipras could have used an exploratory mandate to avoid snap elections.

He warned that if SYRIZA is the first party, there is the fear that a tide of new elections would come as the “53” deputies who have stated that they would not vote for laws as well as those who voted “present” are still on the party’s ballots. Meimarakis also pondered as to whether it is in Tsipras’ DNA to always seek the public’s opinion.

Meimarakis said that a negotiation of the third bailout agreement would only be possible after the first six months. The only way that the terms can be bettered is if the Greek government shows home tidying skills by putting affairs in order.

“Tsipras has changed since he signed the memorandum,” said Meimarakis. “He has done underhanded things that are unbecoming.” The conservative leader invited Tsipras to “commit to the program” before talking about forming a government. He pledged to cooperate with SYRIZA, PASOK and Potami to form a coalition government if his party comes first on September 20.