We took over a country in dire straits and brought it to growth, Tsipras says about 2019 budget
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The previous government of New Democracy (ND) left behind public funds bereft of funds, insurance funds with massive deficits of over 1 billion euros, and an unemployment rate of 28 percent, Prime Minister Alexis charged during a parliamentary plenary session on the 2019 draft budget.
Attacking the main opposition party and its current leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister called out ND for “signing off surpluses of 4.5 percent over four years and of 4 percent to 2060 (…) while being unable to reach the target of 1.5 percent” in 2014, under the Antonis Samaras government.
From 2010 to 2014, Greece lost a quarter of its national wealth and within five years had a recession of 5.5 percent per year, Tsipras charged, while currently the country is expected to complete its second year of positive growth.
“You are always trying to create a reverse picture of reality to justify what is unjustifiable and to create more excuses,” the premier said, adding that ND’s “fiscal adjustment was tougher and ineffective.” He also reiterated that the budget in parliament is the first post-loan-memorandum budget, “one of fiscal expansion after eight years of austerity.”
Tsipras responded to ND’s accusations of promoting austerity measures by saying that his government “took over a country right after five destructive years (…) and a social disaster.” During the main opposition’s turn in government, the deficit shot to 15 percent, austerity measures totaling 65 billion euros were introduced and pensions were cut by 40 billion euros. “What exactly do you want us to compare?” he said.
The premier outlined the government’s successes in energy, construction, tourism, the project of Hellenikon which will begin in spring 2019, and other investments. According to statistical authority’s data for 2017, net direct foreign investments in Greece reached 3.59 billion euros, and in the first nine months of 2018 they total 2.77 billion euros, Tsipras said, also refuting “the myth that Greece does not have access” to international markets because of high borrowing rates.
“Our vision is clear,” Tsipras said, and it relates to “the dynamic growth of the Greek economy and the revival of production, the safeguarding of fiscal stability, the increase of wages (…) and the support and upgrading of the social state, health, education and social solidarity.”
Source: ANA-MPA