Samaras to ND members: “No vacation this year”

Speaking to members of the Executive Secretariat, ND President Antonis Samaras sent out a battle call in view of political developments and put his party on election readiness.

“We asked for elections and we want them, they might arrive any minute now, so I make this battle call toward everybody. There will be no vacation this year. I will not allow inertia and personal strategies, we are all united with society and the people. Our goal is to reach every citizen whatever their political views so far, and persuade them. We live in unusual times and this is an unusual call I am making”, Samaras said.

The ND leader appeared optimistic and confident that he will win the elections, and stated that “we will govern to break with the past and correct past mistakes. Greece has inexhaustible wealth, both animate and inanimate. It is not doomed to fail. Our views are finding support and international recognition, and in this call there is no enemy except our own bad side”.

He attacked the government, blaming it for the failure of its estimations: “Instead of reducing the deficit by 4% as they had predicted for the first 6 months, it rose by 28%, and had they not cut the public investment program, it would have gone up to 70%”. He addressed domestic and European officials: “The question I ask Greeks and foreigners is if these sacrifices are not in vain, then what is?”. He blamed the government for “its ever-changing political decisions, saying one thing domestically and quite another in foreign meetings. The finance minister said in Brussels that the mid-term will be implemented while his deputy said that the program for the utilisation of public property cannot be implemented”.

Samaras referred to his economic program, saying that Zappeio 2 changed the financial agenda, and added that the government is adopting his proposal to use public property, is considering reducing tax rates and even simplifying the taxation system.

He clarified once again that "he will vote for the new loan contract only if it comes with a change in economic policy towards development", and insisted again on renegotiation to achieve growth in the Greek economy. Finally, he stated that he supports the use of public property and not selling it out, and this is why the ND is taking part in the Privatization Committee.