Primary surplus targets up to 2022 can be met without more cuts, Tzanakopoulos says

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos expressed his absolute certainty that the European Commission will agree with the Greek government’s position to not implement pension cuts, while speaking to the radio station ’24/7′ on Monday.

“Given that the 3.5 pct primary surplus target can be met without the need to take or implement additional measures, I am totally certain that this position will be accepted by the European Commission,” said Tzanakopoulos.
Asked if this only temporarily suspended the pension cuts, Tzanakopoulos was quite clear: “In every case, there is certainty that the primary surplus target can be met up to 2022 without adopting any additional measures. We are not discussing nor are we prepared to talk about a suspension of the measure.”
Referring to hiring in the public sector, he said that the social state needs support, that hiring will be based on a 1:1 ratio (one hiring for one retirement) while the removal of the clergy from the civil service will free 10,000 civil servants’ positions.
Tzanakopoulos predicted that the Church Hierarchy will approve the agreement reached by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos but added that, in the opposite case, the government will adopt a position after examining the Hierarchy’s decisions.

Source: ANA-MPA