Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the Greek Parliament on Monday to brief opposition parties on his leftist government’s negotiations. The prime minister spoke in a defiant tone, accusing previous governments of leaving coffers empty and looting wage-earners and pensioners, while leaving others to not pay their share during the crisis. He vowed to stop Greece from “bleeding” and to seek an “honest compromise” with Greece’s partners, while calling on the opposition to adopt the government’s “red lines” in the framework of a national effort for a solution to Greece’s problems.

He reiterated the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government’s pledge to the Greek people. He noted that the majority of citizens support the government’s negotiations and are calling on the government to “not take a step back.” He said that a “mine field” has been set up by previous governments but despite this, the government’s strategy is bearing fruit.

He claimed he found no surplus that the previous government had proudly reported, whereas the law for repayment of debts in 100 installments was so deficient that it only brought in 70 million euros. “In just one week we brought in 100 million euros from the 100-installments (plan),” he said, noting that Greece is not the only country that pays off its debts from its budget.

“Our negotiating strategy led to the extension of negotiations,” he underlined, stressing that rather than rely on methods such as that of former finance minister Gikas Hardouvelis’ notorious e-mail to Greece’s creditors, the new government is looking at real economic reform.

Tsipras states the February 20 agreement at the Eurogroup recognizes the need for Greek debt reform and said that negotiation is the “only road to the end of austerity within the Eurozone.”

Tsipras was highly critical of the previous memorandums signed and on the handling of Greece’s affairs in the past. He ruled out the discussion of a third bailout when the bridge program ends in June. Instead, he pointed out that Greece’s creditors have pledged to start debt relief talks when the current program ends.

Rather than getting sympathy from the anti-memorandum Communist Party (KKE), KKE leader Koutsoumpas said that SYRIZA didn’t cancel memorandums as promised, but extended the current one.

Conservative New Democracy president and former PM Antonis Samaras also took the word, criticizing the current government for failing to deliver credible reforms. He accused the government of committing to conditions without getting any financing for Greece in return.

At the forefront of the proceedings was Parliament President Zoi Konstantopoulou, a stickler for detail, who was accused by opposition socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos for being rude.

A raucous debate ensued with the 70-minute briefing of the 300-seat legislature turning into a 4-hour long debate.