“We were defeated, by the victory by our opponents was Pyrrhic,” Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said from Parliament’s podium an hour after midnight on Thursday morning, in yet another late, late night debate in Greece’s parliament over bailout terms, conditions and agreements.

Tsipras said the balance of power in Europe was extremely one-sided, while using a phrase reminiscent of more revolutionary surroundings, “the struggles that aren’t given are the only lost ones; struggles to the end at some point bear fruit. I do not regret the struggle we gave, even for a moment; I am proud (of this)”.

He also dismissed high-pitched criticism that the referendum he called for July 5 — with resulted in a resounding “no” — actually generated a worse agreement with creditors. To back his statement, he said an agreement tabled on June 25 foresaw an extension of the bailout program with a seven-billion-euro loan and commensurate obligations of 12 billion euros.
Tsipras said the current deal provides leeway to crush speculation over “Grexit” and opens a prospect for growth and investment to flow into the country.
“In certain circles of Europe, however, the idea of Grexit has not been abandoned,” he warned.

Tsipras also appeared optimistic over the prospect of a future debt write-down for Greece, saying the question is not if, but how deep a “haircut”.

In a bid to point to a future “road map” for his government, he said it will tackle corruption, vested interests and tax evasion in the country, citing a draft law on broadcast licenses as proof of this.

Earlier, new Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told the same session in Parliament, on the second package of prior actions, that a ban on foreclosures by banks of primary residences will remain.