“We must renegotiate now to avoid bankruptcy”

“I am not ready to take responsibility for bringing down this country and its policies. I will vote knowing that I’m voting for the knife and not the pistol”, said Vasso Papandreou in a dramatic call to the government for an immediate renegotiation with the Europeans, in order to save our country from certain bankruptcy being prepared by Germany, as she noted.

At the start of her speech, the experienced MP said “We are called upon to say yes or no to the cruelest measures this country has ever heard, measures that not only are unfair but ineffective too. Every installment we receive is a minor delay to our bankruptcy. How long will they keep giving to us? The debt will become unbearable in a while and we will have nothing left to sell”.

She explained that the real problem is located in the Eurozone and it remains there, despite the PM’s efforts. “Our major problem is that the EU does not know what it wants to do with the euro. Europe is a jungle and bankers have taken over. And the speculative games against civilians are continuing even today, with Europe doing nothing to stop them”.

The congresswoman also noted that “Greece cannot live in circumstances of continuous pressure, which is where the mid-term has brought us. Can we let this happen? No. But is there an alternative solution? The memorandum was a large loan to a country headed for bankruptcy. They are bringing in new loans now. A mammoth loan will be here shortly and it is not the solution but the crowning of our failure. A bankrupt country does not want new loans, but a solution to its problems and the renegotiation of its debt. I will cite an interview by a known economic historian, who reminds us that Germany is the biggest debt offender and its growth has been based on breaches of debt payments to other countries, including Greece. Why am I voting in favor of the mid-term then? If it does not pass, our collapse will be immediate, bringing its dramatic consequences to our society and the political system.

I am not ready to take responsibility for bringing down this country and its policies. I will vote knowing that I’m voting for the knife and not the pistol, but under the condition that the government will start the negotiation with Europe right away. They too have an interest in finding a solution and in not continuously issuing successive rescue packages that lead Greece toward bankruptcy; a renegotiation that will take into account all the players, including China”. The former minister concluded by requesting the finance minister’s commitment to the renegotiation.

“The affirmation of the mid-term is a brave and responsible act”, was Venizelos' comment about Papandreou’s position. He also promised that the government will do its best to ensure a viable framework.