Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras supported German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Germany’s policy during the meeting held on Friday among the political leaders saying “Germany support us, but it is Austria that does the ‘dirty work’”.

Mr. Tsipras admitted that about half of the refugees and immigrants entering Greece used to be registered and identified in the past, but now this is done for 100% of the people entering Greece.

He also admitted that about 1,500-2,000 people reach daily Greece, while only 200-300 leave the country. However, he insisted on saying that the situation is “difficult but manageable,” adding that the government does not construct refugee reception centers at the borders so as to avoid enhancing refugee flows.

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Potami president Stavros Theodorakis strongly reacted when the Prime Minister defended former Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou.

The political leaders discussed also the actions of NGOs, with the president of ANEL and Minister of Defense, Panos Kammenos, saying that “we isolated NGOs that were linked to Islamist organizations”. Moreover, the general secretary of Communist Party of Greece Dimitris Koutsoumpas commented that “most NGOs are playing dirty games”.

The focus of the discussion was also the ability or inability of the government to manage the refugee crisis. When the leaders agreed to issue a common statement, Fofi Gennimata wanted to add a paragraph saying that it has been proved that the government cannot handle the current situation.

“It is not possible to issue a statement saying that I am not capable” Mr. Tsipras opposed, while Kyriakos Mitsotakis also expressed his opposition. Trying to find a solution, President of Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos said that the positions of the political leaders have been recorded and it will be pointed out that they severely criticized the prime minister and the government.