The PM’s inaugural speech: Opposition parties react

Author: newsroom  | Published: February 9, 2015

Social media was abuzz as Tsipras’ speech moved the majority of the nation, giving hope that the tax burden will be fairer and corruption curbed, but the opposition parties were not all that impressed

Starting late on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras delivered a 1.5-hour speech in Parliament to outline the government’s policy statements. The opposition parties responded to the proposals:

Socialist PASOK

The press office of the socialist PASOK opposition was critical of Sunday’s speech, stating that it “lacked substance.” PASOK believes that the speech failed to present a serious and complete proposal and was fully of “generally-worded commonplaces.”

The measures announced were considered vague, unrelated to the program presented by SYRIZA at the Thessaloniki Trade Fair. “Tsipras spoke with the ease of the opposition and not hte responsibility required by government,” said thae announcement. PASOK wants to know what the government means by the phrase “bridging deal”. Furthermore, the speech did not refer at all to the current obligations of Greece with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

SYRIZA’s criticism that the former coalition government sought a two-month rather than a six-month extension of the bailout on purpose to ensure the future government’s failure was seen as contradictory to the government’s current position in refusing to seek an extension of the program itself.

PASOK, however, was positive regarding SYRIZA’s interest in creating a Parliamentary investigation into the events leading up to the signing of the two memorandums in 2010 and 2012.

Main opposition New Democracy

An announcement issued immediately after the speech by Tsipras stated that the conservative New Democracy party “supports the national effort for a beneficial agreement” and stated satisfction that Tsipras has realized “for the first time” that Tsipras has understood that “primary surpluses are a condition of national sovereignty and for reinforcing the country’s negotiating position, while forgetting that this was an achievement of the previous government that he systematically fought.”

“ND expressed its deep concern, however, as to whether there will be a successful negotiation after all that was heard tonight,” the party’s statement concluded.

Centrist Potami

The programmed statements were described as “brainstorming” by the Potami group, adding that time is running out and daring decisions are necessary rather than merely an “essay of ideas”. “Tsipras should tell the people not what they were dreaming of prior to the elections, but what needs to be done to break the country’s deadlock. Time is running out.”

Golden Dawn

“Tsipras announced there would be a new memorandum under a different name,” said the party’s statement. “Golden Dawn will fight hard against any government decision that will constitute a national retreat,” it noted.