Samaras: I'll pull the country out of the memorandum - No conflict with Troika

‘I will not allow democracy to succumb to criminal violence,’ Greek premier Antonis Samaras said in an interview on Mega Chanel and added that ‘there is no civil war. The Greeks are united against violence. I would say this is the popular mandate, the popular demand. Clear as the government's position to be merciless against the perpetrators.’

He continued by saying ‘there is mental anguish for any victim, especially for these three young lads who died and I think the best memorial for them, would be just this unity of the world because this is what we need. What is required today in Greece that has the problem of the crisis and should come out of it quickly, is to have stability and confidence from the Greeks in our homeland, and from foreigners in Greece.’

Samaras attacked SYRIZA on the issue of violence. ‘Violence is one and must be condemned, parties should denounce violence and extreme behaviors. They cannot invite people to overthrow the government. I hope the leadership of SYRIZA will isolate and denounce any extreme behavior. To tolerate or justify extreme behaviors is leading to violence.'

He denied there was a delay in dealing with the Golden Dawn. He said the groundwork had been laid and for the first time in Greece the State moved both directly and organized. For the voters of the Golden Dawn he said that these people have no connection with the Nazi views 'there are no Nazi roots in Greece, this is a reaction to the difficult times the people are passing through. As soon as we begin to reduce unemployment and normalcy and stability will start prevailing such phenomena will disappear.’ He estimated that after the recent developments the power of the Golden Dawn will be reduced.

Message to Troika

Referring to the Troika he said that there is an ongoing harsh negotiation since last year with concrete results. He stated ‘we are not in war but in negotiations. We managed to do the greatest haircut ever made on the planet, at 146 billion euros. We managed to reduce the VAT in catering from 23% to 13%. While we were going to put a 0.2% tax on all businesses, ie 2 ‰ of turnover and save some 600 million euros and 250 million from a new hike to army personnel, we averted that.' He clarified that there will be no more horizontal measures. 'There is no agreement on such measures and the Greek society and economy cannot bare anymore measures.’ He added there is no risk of elections and that the distance will be covered with remedial measures.

Addressing the Troika he said ‘what’s important is that we are a country that was unstable in a stable region. Today, we are a stable country in an unstable region, with the incredible sacrifices of the Greek people. The income we have lost is at 25%, in GDP, production and if you add inflation and taxes, the average Greek has lost 40% of disposable income. Therefore each troika and each foreigner must respect these sacrifices.'

Primary surplus

He emphasized on the primary surplus by saying 'do you know where I place our own credibility? There where no one expected Greece to succeed. The primary surplus. Allow me, a lot of people will hear us today, to tell the people what to say: You have a home, you have 10 in revenue, 9 in expenses. We have succeeded, for the first time in Greece after so many years to have more revenue than expenses. Of this difference, the 70 % will be given back to those who are most aggrieved. Revolution for me now is to get out of the misery reaching a primary surplus.'

No new memorandum

'There is no pressure for a new memorandum. Some in Europe are talking about an extension of the existing memorandum because until the first quarter of 2016 the IMF will continue to lend us. However, the existing loan agreement is strictly adhered to. The budgetary gap will cease to exist. It is their duty to fill the financing gap. The only thing that can exist and be bad for Greece is to start a discussion about debt sustainability because it will cause concern in the markets.'

Taxation

Referring to the issue of over taxation he said ‘the Greek society has reached its limits in the tax return, except fraudsters of course, and I do not know how much they have decreased. I am a supporter and I wish to see it widely accepted, of the view that the tax in Greece is much higher than it should. Turkey cannot have lower rates than ours. Indeed 2013 is the worst year that the Greeks have ever met. We had income the of 2012, real estate tax at the end of 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. This is not going to come back, this is the last worst year.'

Talking about the reactions of MPs he said ‘there were reactions. They objected to the issues of distortion and I think a lot of things will be corrected by the MPs interventions. I think, as you saw, we tidied up the issues for sheepfolds etc., they will not be done.’

The Single real estate tax in municipalities

The PM also said 'I heard something and I found it right: Could we pass the real estate tax to municipalities with reciprocity; This is something that is done abroad and could remove our obligation to pay the municipality deficits that are often uncontrollable.'

He added that the government will proceed to install and provide free wi-fi internet throughout Greece within the next year.

International contacts

Samaras mentioned the discussions with Merkel and other politicians. 'On Friday I had an extensive telephone conversation with her. Next week we will meet again in Paris at the end of the month I will go to Berlin for a major newspaper as a special guest, along with the Italian Prime Minister. These contacts, by phone or not, are made ​​constantly and with everybody.'

For Stournaras

For FinMin Yannis Stournaras and the criticism of New Democracy parliamentarians on his face he said, ‘he speaks directly and is not hiding. I think Stournaras in 15 months helped us to turned the boat. I really think he has put his signature mainly because he is the kind of person who does not believe in the political cost. I support him and Venizelos supports him too.'

Attack on Tsipras

For Alexis Tsipras he said 'Tsipras is struggling so we don’t get out of the crisis. He does not accept the primary surplus and threatens investors, namely, is "killing" the economy. He says that "if the public official helps, the MP comes to vote and the investor invests his money, they will find us in front of them." These are unbelievable and inexcusable things. I believe he is a creator and victim of a cacophony of political components that exist today within SYRIZA. No one ever became a Prime Minister wishing for the failure of their country. Because the country’s failure is his way to win. I think he does not support a "Greece for the Greeks" as Andreas Papandreou did, but a Greece for illegal immigrants, a Greece without foreign policy, because it would have removed the problems of Greece. He supports a Greece where the words nation and motherland are prohibited.’

The country will come out of the Memorandum

‘Definitely, the country will come out of the Memorandum. I do not want to make accurate predictions. According to a study we have made, the country will succeed in having a primary surplus in 2017 as well. What does primary surplus mean? That you have the money to correct injustices, that is, to heal the wounds created by the Memorandum,’ the prime minister said.

Elections

'The election will come in 2016 when our four-year-term will close. At first we were told that we will do them immediately because we were falling apart. Then we were told that we had the comparative political advantage and will proceed to them because it suited us. Neither are we collapsing obviously, nor do I care whether it suits me. People must finally learn that in a country with firmness must they obey the logic of 4 years. Elections will take place in four years.'

For Venizelos

Samaras talked about his relationship with Evangelos Venizelos. 'On a political level we have many differences. What unites us is this shared responsibility for tomorrow. They asked me yesterday, do various groups challenge Venizelos? I will dare say in public, yes he is challenged for the submarines for which there was a preliminary and inquiry investigation in '11 and did not find anything. He is challenged for the Lagarde list. Again there was an inquiry investigation that did not find anything. For the submarines, those who were then with Tsochatzopoulos to what party are they today? For the Lagarde list, there was nothing to say. What I want to say is that they attack anywhere they can, believing they will reap benefits. I speak especially about SYRIZA. But they do not beat on Venizelos, or Samaras or anyone. They strike the stability of the country, which as I said in the beginning of our conversation is the great condition for the world to come out of the rut and the crisis.'

Election of the President of the Republic

The premier also spoke about the election of the President of the Republic in 2016 saying 'I have no one in my mind, I have not even thought about that. What I do have in mind is that Greece must have to offer us a President to avoid elections in 2015. And I believe that we will find this person, there are wonderful Greeks everywhere, male and female. Regardless of factions we will find someone who can condense in his name, his image, the best Greece can give today both domestically and abroad.'

Samaras concluded with the optimistic prediction that ‘we are getting closer and closer to the time when things will be good. Unless there is an accident.'