Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comGreek NewsEconomyTsipras-Mitsotakis Cross Swords in Greek Parliament Over Pension System

Tsipras-Mitsotakis Cross Swords in Greek Parliament Over Pension System

tsipras-mitsotakis-asfalistiko-vouliThe first battle in parliament between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and newly elected New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis took place Tuesday evening on the hot issue of security system reforms.
“The pension system is not sustainable,” said Tsipras. “We are having this discussion today because if we do not change course, the funds will collapse and we will not be able to pay pensions.”
The prime minister accused New Democracy and PASOK for mismanaging and “looting” the security funds in the past 40 years bringing the pension system on the brink of collapse. He said that the governments of the past five years of the economic crisis cut pensions 11 times. “We are being forced to clean your dirty laundry,” he said emphatically.
Tsipras said the reforms his government is proposing will make the ailing system viable. Raising contributions in order to avoid pension cuts is the most fair solution to the problem. He accused, again, New Democracy for refusing to vote for it and aligning with the International Monetary Fund that proposes pension cuts.
However, Tsipras left a window open for an open discussion on the security fund reforms and the farmers issue. He said he is open to suggestions.
The opposition leader said that the pension system was sustainable in 2014, during the New Democracy-PASOK administration. He also said that the proposals the SYRIZA-ANEL government is putting on the table are based on measures taken by previous governments. He noted that an increase in contributions will send undeclared labor skyrocketing.
Mitsotakis proposed establishing three pension funds instead of one.
He also called for the implementation of the zero deficit rule for supplementary pensions and a clampdown on undeclared labor. The New Democracy leader also urged the government to stop hiring relatives, friends and party members in the public sector and giving pay raises to civil servants.
The conservative leader told Tsipras to stop dividing Greeks to haves and have-nots and turn one against the other, give initiatives to the productive elements of society instead of giving handouts to the less fortunate, and overall urged him to aim at a strong economy instead of a welfare state.

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts