Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras tells SYRIZA gov't has been legitimized by the people

[02] Meetings between government and institutions to continue on Wed.

[01] PM Tsipras tells SYRIZA gov't has been legitimized by the people

According to party sources, the prime minister focused on the government's central policy, with Tsipras expressing confidence that the Greek people support the government and on the labour action called by farmers and other unions against the planned social security reforms.

"The government received three times legitimacy from the Greek people in less than a year," he said. "Some people didn't like that, but it's not them who support and legitimize us."

He noted that the Greek people gave a clear mandate to implement the agreement without straying from the red lines which concern the protection of the weak and the majority and noted that this is what his government will do with "vested interests inside the country and abroad".

Commenting on the strikes called by the unions, Tsipras said among others:

1. That all pensioners, but also the vast majority of workers, employees, the unemployed, but also farmers and self-employed, will benefit from our proposal, because our basic choice is not to cut pensions again, while we distribute social security contributions depending on income, so that each person will be burdened according to his economic situation.

2. It is not true that the government's proposal burdens incredibly the farmers. The 15-25 euros per month, which will take place after four years, as increases in contributions will be gradual, so that farmers can receive a pension instead of a tip, is neither unbearable, nor irrational or a burden without a gain.

3. In 2014 farmers paid a total of 411 million euros in taxes, while in 2016 they'll pay about 225 million euros because, after an intervention by the government, agricultural aid will not be taxed.

[02] Meetings between government and institutions to continue on Wed.

It will be followed by a meeting at 10.30 on issues concerning public administration, at noon on fiscal issues, at 14.30 on income tax and on 16.30 on pension reforms.

Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis will meet again with the heads of the institutions' mission in the morning to discuss non-performing loans (NPLs).

Today, the two sides concluded talks on whether to extend the protection on NPLs which mortgage the main residence, as well as those of SMEs until March 15. The government wants to achieve a horizontal exemption of all NPLs which mortgage the main residence, while it is also discussing small improvements in the law passed by former minister Nikos Dendias, a senior government official said after the meeting, adding that the extension will be granted.

Concerning the meeting with Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos earlier today, a government official said the institutions didn't ask for pension cuts, but noted that negotiations will be tough on all the pending issues.

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