Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprasa struck a positive note in an interview with Greek media on Sunday as the country is set to exit the ‘hostage’ situation it has been in under the various memoranda.
In an interview with Greek newspaper “Nea Selida” Tsipras noted that Greece will exit the programme in 2018 allowing it to tap into the markets.
“Isn’t that our final goal? After June 15, we are closer than ever,” he said.
Tsipras insisted that his government’s stance during negotiations with the creditors had led to a better deal for Greece saying that neither the positive measures, nor the growth clause, nor the Development Bank nor a clear commitment to support Greece’s access to the markets would exist if the government had signed when the main opposition was clamouring for it to do so, he added.
The Greek Prime Minister also made overtures to the progressive parties saying he would be “genuinely pleased if [PASOK] once again found its progressive orientation and the courage to start a sincere and unprejudiced dialogue with the governing Left, with SYRIZA, on the prospects of a progressive governance after the end of the memoranda.”
“We will be there but I think it has very serious problems to resolve in order to get there,” he added, calling on PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata to adopt a position on the agenda proposed by New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “Then we will know whether we are on the same or opposite sides of the abyss,” he added.
Asked about the Cyprus issue, the Greek premier said that it was possible for positive steps to be made, provided that Turkey adopted a constructive attitude.
He also announced that SYRIZA will work more intensively over the coming months to build a stronger connection with society, starting long before the next elections in September 2019.
