Greece’s emergence from nine years of crisis and international financial bailouts marks a “new day” for the country, a “day of redemption but also the dawning of a new era,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday, in a televised address from the Ionian island of Ithaca.
In a speech laden with classical symbolism, the prime minister said that Greece’s modern-day “Odyssey,” which had begun in 2010, had come to an end. “The bailouts of recession, austerity and social desertification are finally over.”
“Our country regains its right to shape its own future,” he said from a hill overlooking a bay in the island where Odysseus returned after a 10-year voyage recounted by classical poet Homer.
He added that “we have left the Symplegades behind,” referring to the mythological rocks at the Bosporus that clashed together whenever a vessel went through.
Tsipras said that his government had achieved what it set out to do when it was elected to power in 2015, namely “to take the country out of the restrictions of the memorandums and endless austerity.”
“We will never forget the causes and the faces that led the country to the memorandums,” he said, warning that “new battles lie ahead.”
Continuing with his maritime metaphors, he said he would not allow those who wished to take the country in another direction take control.
Cartoon on ekathimerini.com. Cartoonist Ilias Makris:
Mitsotakis: PM's performance caused sadness and anger
Recalling Tsipras’ promise to “tear up the [bailout] memorandums” before coming to power, Mitsotakis said the prime minister “went on to sign an unnecessary third memorandum that cost us more than 100 billion euros. And now the fourth informal memorandum begins, with austerity, new pension cuts, increases in taxes and levies, cruel primary surpluses and very strict monitoring.”
The prime minister’s address had caused “sadness and anger” among Greeks and divided them, Mitostakis said, accusing Tsipras of staging “fake events”.
Mitsotakis: PM's performance caused sadness and anger
The third “unnecessary” memorandum caused by the Tsipras government will be followed by a fourth “informal” one, the leader of the main opposition New Democracy party said on Tuesday.
The “symbolism of Ithaca is false,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. “We have not reached the end of the journey. Cheap financing ends today but the tough measures and heavy commitments which Mr Tsipras signed up to will continue.”
The “symbolism of Ithaca is false,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. “We have not reached the end of the journey. Cheap financing ends today but the tough measures and heavy commitments which Mr Tsipras signed up to will continue.”
Recalling Tsipras’ promise to “tear up the [bailout] memorandums” before coming to power, Mitsotakis said the prime minister “went on to sign an unnecessary third memorandum that cost us more than 100 billion euros. And now the fourth informal memorandum begins, with austerity, new pension cuts, increases in taxes and levies, cruel primary surpluses and very strict monitoring.”
The prime minister’s address had caused “sadness and anger” among Greeks and divided them, Mitostakis said, accusing Tsipras of staging “fake events”.
Tuesday August 21, 2018
Source: ekathimerini.com
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