Addressing an event for the 40th anniversary since the founding of the New Democracy party, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stated on Saturday that Greece will not need any more memorandums, nor will it need the money from the current loan tranches that remain in the next year.
During his speech at the event which took place at Athos Palace hotel in Kallithea, Halkidiki, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras lashed out against main coalition SYRIZA, saying that “it will never become the ruling party in Greece, because it couldn’t even become a successful main opposition party.”
The Prime Minister underlined that the main opposition is scaring people with its dangerous promises and wants to keep Greece trapped in the past. “They launched a campaign asking for a Europe without borders. Look at the current situation in the world and you’ll see which party has been proven wrong and which has been proven right time and again,” said the Prime Minister, adding that for New Democracy, “the most important thing is the duty to serve our country.”
“Let them call us conservatives, we are fine with that. Because what we want to do is to preserve Democracy in this country.”
Regarding New Democracy party, PM Samaras said that “it has successfully passed all tests, proving that it is the main pillar of stability in the country.”
Moreover, he stressed that the country will not need any more bailouts or memorandums, nor will it need the money from the current loan tranches that remain in the next year, while he also announced that measures to relieve the heavy tax burden were imminent.
The prime minister analyzed ND’s role in dealing with the crisis, admitting that the party has made some mistakes over its history but never stooped to populism.
He also underlined that ND was vindicated in opposing the terms of the first memorandums but had not opted to “rest on its laurels” at the country’s expense:
“Instead of basking in the glory of my country’s demise, I chose to change its course, to change its fate. Many warned me that I’d been given a hand grenade that could go off in my hands. I was aware of that. But I held on and I defused that grenade. I did not let it go off. Someone had to do it and it was us,” Mr. Samaras said.
