Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-06-02

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou addresses Thessaloniki rally

[02] Tsipras addresses Athens rally

[03] KKE vote 'blow' to big parties

[01] Papandreou addresses Thessaloniki rally

"On June 7 we shall give a vote of hope and of confidence to PASOK and the policies that can lead us to the future," he said, adding that "with PASOK's victory the way will open for an absolute majority in the national elections."

"On Sunday, we shall be waging a great battle and we have before us all the forces of the establishment and the interests that cannot stand a state of law. They cannot stand PASOK speaking about things that must change, about the strength of the Greek man and the Greek woman. For this reason they are encouraging the view that they are all the same. Because without options the citizen surrenders," he stressed.

Papandreou further said that "their only fear is PASOK because it is the only one that is providing a different solution today for the governance of the country, for a government that will be reliable, dynamic and progressive, with a will to set a new course."

The PASOK leader underlined that "the June 7 victory will be the victory of those who were treated unjustly, who were ignored and treated with contempt by the policy of the right-wing party, that placed them on the margin of society. It will be the victory of the many and for this reason not even one vote must be lost."

Papandreou pointed out that voting for the ruling New Democracy (ND) party would mean voting "for those who plunged Greece into a crisis, for those who invest in lies, in polarisation and in slander."

He once again called on Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to speak "with sincerity for once" and say which new taxes he is preparing to impose after the Euroelections and with how many new burdens he will be burdening the average Greek family."

Papandreou appealed once again to ND's voters who, as he said, felt "betrayed" by the government's policies and added that PASOK's struggle "is also their struggle, it is the struggle to rid us of the barbarism that we are experiencing today. And this is the general call of democracy."

[02] Tsipras addresses Athens rally

Tsipras expressed optimism over the outcome of the Euroelections and over SYRIZA's target of emerging as the third force in these elections, while stressing that the rally was sending "a message of unity and reversal".

The Coalition leader criticised the government and the prime minister over economic policy, its stance on scandal cases and predicted that "the prime minister and the government are preparing the big attack of consistency and responsibility for us on Monday. With measures on the social security issue. On the abolition of basic labour rights. On the restriction of social expenditures."

Referring to PASOK, Tsipras said that "the leadership of PASOK has nothing specific to say, except for nice mottos and slogans" and, appealing to PASOK leader George Papandreou, said "Mr. Papandreou, I hope that you do not owe to anyone, as you are telling us, but you certainly owe an answer to the Greek people on the options that you promoted while in government and which even today you are refusing to revise."

[03] KKE vote 'blow' to big parties

She underlined that a vote for KKE would be the strongest and clearest way to send that message, since KKE was the party that had consistently opposed not just the two large parties that had alternated in government in Greece but also the European Union and its policies.

According to Papariga, the aim was for ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK to discover on June 8 that they have lost not just their electoral power but also their political power.

"This does not mean that whoever votes of KKE agrees with us on all things. But a vote for KKE will translate into a political blow to these parties," she stressed.

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