Greek leftist leader Alexis Tsipras gave an ultimatum to Antonis Samaras and Evangelos Venizelos, asking them to renounce support for the European Union-led bailout if they want to enter government. Tsipras demanded that the two political leaders send a letter to Brussels cancelling their written pledges to impose more brutal austerity measures by the time he meets them to talk about forming a coalition government.
Samaras said what Tsipras was suggesting is catastrophic as Greece would be kicked out of the eurozone, and that the Syriza leader was doing everything possible to ensure no government would be formed.
“I’m being asked to put my signature on the destruction of Greece…He (Tsipras) interprets, with incredible arrogance, the election result as an order to drag Greece into chaos,” said ND’s leader.
Venizelos answered that his party, PASOK, isn’t willing to form a coalition with Syriza, as the party would only join a coalition government that would ensure Greece’s position in the eurozone. “We want things to get better not worse for Greeks,” said Venizelos.
Greek media reported that Tsipras intends to send a letter to the European Union, but it was not immediately known what exactly he planned to say.
“The popular verdict clearly renders the bailout deal invalid,” said Tsipras, whose party took second place in the election in which voters abandoned the New Democracy and PASOK parties in droves, incensed by their acceptance of severe austerity measures in exchange for a rescue that is saving Greece from bankruptcy but at the same time has brought Greek people on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
It is mathematically impossible for Tsipras to form a government without the support of Samaras’ ND, because – as expected – Alexa Papariga, leader of the isolationist Communists, turned down any participation in government and no party will cooperate with the fascist Golden Dawn. In case Tsipras fails, the mandate would then pass to Venizelos. If he is also fails, party leaders will hold a final effort to reach an agreement. And if nothing comes from that, elections will take place within a month which means there’s more drama ahead for the already exhausted cash-stripped Greeks.
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