Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND leader: Completion of review not enough to counteract recessionary measures

[02] State minister Pappas: A very negative development if Britain voted to leave EU

[01] ND leader: Completion of review not enough to counteract recessionary measures

"Those who claim this don't understand what's happening in the real economy," he said. "Some people claim the government has transformed into a belated proponent of liberal reforms. It's like claiming Nigel Farage has become pro-European!" he added and continued "I want to be clear. The completion of the review is a temporary diversion from the Avenue of populism that the Greek government marches onto. A political maneuver to survive and stay in power."

Mitsotakis went on to say that all Greek parties have in the past succumbed to populism, including ND, but noted that his party's "divorce from populism is permanent". "Today, ND says things that can be done and those that cannot [be done] are not said."

He also spoke for the need for a new deal with Greece's creditors whom he criticized for accepting the completion of the review with measures based on the imposition of new taxes. Mitsotakis said the target for a 3.5 pct primary surplus is unfeasible and predicted that the targets won't be achieved.

Commenting on Thursday's British referendum on whether to stay in the EU, he said: "I truly hope a vote in favour of staying will give Europe an opportunity for some honest self-criticism. A new European political narrative is urgently needed. A narrative that will inspire European citizens and strengthen their belief in the usefulness of the Union."

He also said this narrative should reconnect the European middle class with politics and warned about the wave of populism and xenophobia sweeping Europe.

[02] State minister Pappas: A very negative development if Britain voted to leave EU

He said even the fact that a country the size of Britain has called a referendum on such a question is a negative development, adding that the cost of the country's withdrawal from the EU would be huge and those who claim otherwise are "naïve".

Pappas also described as "naïve" those who last summer "played with fire" by promoting a Greek exit from the Eurozone. "At any rate, it is interesting to watch the same people pleading with Britain not to leave [the EU] which does not even have the same currency," he said. The minister pointed out that this year, there are no longer any uncertainties concerning Greece's stay in the European project, which is not the case on the side of the continent.

Greece is now entering a period where it is emerging as a solution for Europe and not as a problem, he said. "The agreement with our partners has been finalized, is being implemented and the Greek economy is doing better than what many expected," Pappas added, noting that "things could be even better" if disagreements between the institutions hadn't delayed the completion of the program review.

"We won't speak of a success story when unrealistic agreements had been signed on surpluses. But we say that along with the self-evident political stability, the economy is also stabilizing," he said.

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