“There is money”, the referendum and the IMF were all a mistake!

In an interview on Mega television, PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos announced his opposition to the country's recourse to the IMF. He said "I was not in the system that made the contacts and negotiations. I was minister of National Defence and against the appeal to the IMF."

He said that "if there is anyone in Greece who negotiated it was me," and that he took part in critical negotiations on the country's default and its exit from the euro.

Regarding the negotiations with our lenders and the Troika's departure in 2011, he said that "the Troika's departure at the end of summer was in the interests of the country."

The PASOK president described the referendum as a totally incorrect move, even stating that he was surprised by this development.

In addition, he differentiated himself from Papandreou during the election campaign in 2009, saying that "the 'there is money' statement was a mistake. Looking back now, we realize we had to take measures that would have convinced the markets as well, and particularly measures that would have decreased the deficit from the start."

He called the first memorandum "incomplete, since it dealt with the debt problems and not its sustainability. It was based on the assumption that the debt was sustainable without the haircut and the PSI."

He estimated that there will be no political self-reliance and said "I do not care to become the prime minister, I think what I did in the previous nine months as vice president and Minister of finance is an experience that has has left its mark on me, as I made a desperate effort for the country".

Asked if PASOK will be the top party, he answered that he will seek to create a progressive government scheme of European orientation with other political forces.

He attacked the president of New Democracy by saying that "Samaras is obsessed with being prime minister. He has the impression that our country owes him something."

Lastly, Venizelos appeared somewhat reassuring as to possible cuts in the 13th and 14th salary, as well as further reductions in pensions, meanwhile stressing the need to be serious and effective in the implementation of what has been agreed and what we negotiate with our lenders.