Conservative New Democracy (ND) Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was highly critical of the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party during his address at the 25th Annual Greek Economy Conference by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce held in Athens on Tuesday. He accused the party of spreading political uncertainty and threatening to obstruct the election of a new Greek President.

Mr. Samaras defended his government’s handling of negotiations with the troika of Greece’s international creditors from the European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said that the government has not caved in to all of troika’s demands.

“We have rejected terms set for increases in taxes and income reductions during the negotiation,” he said. “Our partners forecast a fiscal gap that cannot be confirmed. They called for new austerity measures in 2013 and 2014 that we refused. Had we done so, we would not be at the current stage of growth. They are asking for restrictive measures that will force development back.”

Mr. Samaras pointed to increased pressure by Greece’s lenders due to the last fiscal program review. “Certain demands are accepted because the economy can sustain them or they made sense, but a reduction in debt settlement in installments or a pension reduction would be a message of catastrophe,” he said, stressing that the national effort to exit the economic crisis will be heralded with political stability. “Nobody in Greece has the right to undermine this stability or the right to keep talking about it abroad. I will not accept irrational and unjustifiable pressure.”

Regarding the political uncertainty in Greece, Mr. Samaras said that party politics should be put behind responsibility towards the citizens. He said that, in an unprecedented move, the main opposition party was increasing political instability.

Mr. Samaras said that SYRIZA felt anxious because it’s reason for existing was being cancelled out by new Greece. He charged SYRIZA for starting rumors about briberies of deputies and said that the present Parliament will elect a president and put an end to stories of political misconduct.

He said that he had three goals when assuming office: to stop the rise in unemployment and slow down the recession; to reduce debt; and to gradually reduce taxes without jeopardizing the country’s fiscal targets. He feels that the government has achieved these three priorities. He said privatizations are going ahead despite obstacles, 95% of income tax returns were lodged online, 105 billion euros of debt has been shaved off and more changes have been achieved.

“Once political uncertainty is overcome we can borrow from markets instead of from our creditors,” said Mr. Samaras, adding that Greece wants a new agreement that will allow the country to program future tax rate reductions.