National Opposition (SYRIZA) party leader Alexis Tsipras met with journalists on Sunday to talk about the national reconstruction program he presented at the 79^th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair on Saturday. Responding to critics, he said that it is insulting to tell people who are suffering that offering them food is a “benefit”, nor is the restructuring of European funds a “benefit.”

“I walk in the street and hear people telling me that they can’t afford to pay ENFIA (new single property tax). Is it a benefit to escape from the madhouse of ENFIA?” he asked. “We aren’t sharing out promises. We are submitting plans with a developmental reasoning.”

He said that it is obvious that the coalition government is one where European parties ultimately decide on the future of the Greek economy. He said that a new party is needed with a fresh mandate in order to negotiate with Greek lenders and he called for early elections.

He said that more debt on top of accumulated debt is no solution. “The country is sinking into recession as the GDP shrinks. We need a strong developmental plan. It’s unprecedented to find a country that has lost 25% of its GDP at a time of peace,” said Tsipras.

He said that his party’s realistic program to deal with the humanitarian crisis is cost-effective and isn’t negotiable with lenders.