‘Tell us say again what you said in the U.S. for the euro’

Greek premier Antonis Samaras launched a harsh personal attack on Alexis Tsipras in his speech in parliament. He started by saying ‘you have lost the sense of proportion Mr. Tsipras. Will you eliminate the memorandum, will you negotiate, does SYRIZA have money? Greece will leave the memorandum and SYRIZA will still be quarreling about how to renegotiate.’

 
Samaras reiterated that the motion was for ERT, which he previously had denounced. He invoked the law for the government's decision to seize the broadcaster’s building and accused Tsipras that ‘besides acting you are playing dangerous games against the government that is negotiating with the lenders. You are seeking to plunge the country into chaos. The calls for overthrowing the government are not met so you choose acting.’

 

He attributed the no-confidence motion in Tsipras’ attempt to appease his own deputies and accused him that for years he were aiding the squats and that with his excesses was strengthening violence.

 

He mentioned Tsipras’ statement from Texas that Greece should leave the euro which shocked SYRIZA. ‘What you have said from Texas we did here in Greece.’ He highlighted the contradictions in Tsipras’ statements in Greece and abroad depending on his audience. ‘SYRIZA means confusion and contradictions. You cannot play theater and constantly befooling the people.’

 

Samaras talked about the steps for exiting the crisis. ‘The first is the primary surplus that will be distributed to the Greek society. 2014 will be the first year of recovery while the competitiveness of the Greek economy is improving. The next step is the exit to the markets at the end of next year. We will broaden the tax base and lighten the tax burden without compromising the primary surplus.’

 

The PM said that elections will come in 2016 and ‘by then Greece will emerge from the crisis. We honor our commitments in full and ask our partners to do so as well. We have achieved a lot, populism and extremism keep the Greek people behind.’

 

‘To escape Lafazanis’ reproach, Tsipras filed a no-confidence motion to Samaras. You have ended up voting alongside the Golden Dawn,’ he said concluding.

 
Samaras in the Associated Press: Elections in 2016
 

‘The parliamentary majority is stronger. Elections will come in 2016,’ Samaras told The Associated Press after the rejection of the SYRIZA motion.

 

‘Believe it or not, I am going to Maximos Mansion,’ he replied when journalists asked him where he was going. ‘Yesterday went to yesterday and tomorrow to tomorrow,’ the premier said for the rejection of the SYRIZA motion and the confidence vote to his government.