Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't receives vote of confidence in House

[01] Gov't receives vote of confidence in House

Summing up, late Sunday night, the debate, Prime Minister George Papandreou asked for "the participation and responsibility of all Greeks" to give a new impetus to the country.

The premier also called on Greeks to be consistent with their tax statements, otherwise the country would go bankrupt.

Papandreou responded to the essence of criticism directed at him from the Right and Left during the discussion on the government's policy statement, while urging all the political trends to agree to "participation and responsibility."

The prime minister presented his positions on the "derailment of the Greek economy," saying that the New Democracy (ND) party, in light of the crisis, did not take any measures to boost the real economy, as other countries did, meaning with the use of state intervention and the Keynesian economic theory, but decreased public investments and helped the banks without supporting small and medium-size businesses, resulting in some of the former imposing even worse terms.

The outcome of all this, he added, was the drying up of the market, while in parallel the government was borrowing, "doubling the debt in just 6 years."

Papandreou further noted "money was not the problem, but where did the money go. Will our problems be solved with the 500 million euros that we secured from wage earners and pensioners. You want the most vulnerable classes of society to pay for the international recession for the favouritism of the past years. The problem is not whether we are unpleasant, but for who. Hundreds of new committees and services were created with boards having huge remuneration, resulting in an annual burden for the state amounting to 230 million euros."

Papandreou referred to the stance of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) on a "programme opposition" and agreed with many of its views, reminding that being the President of the Socialist International he has harshly criticised the international monetary system.

As regards the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), he said that "it has announced so many mobilisations that it has not done over the past five years," adding that "there are also those who easily level and paint everything black. Some see the government as being bound by big capital, others discern conspiracies, commitments and the compromising of national interests. Both these theories lead to extremism, dissension, they create phobia instead of boldness and frankness. In reply to these I say simply: This government, the PASOK government does not owe to anyone."

Papandrerou concluded his address by saying that "we can, we do not lack anything," adding that when the Greek sees an honourable effort he will contribute decisively provided that "we believe in ourselves."

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