New Democracy and Movement for Change called on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to call early elections, during the Greek Parliament plenary on Wednesday.
The plenary was to discuss the state of the economy and the day after the end of Greece’s third bailout program. However, the two opposition parties put the issues of violence and lawlessness, as well as the FYROM negotiations, on the table.
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis chastised the prime minister for the tolerance authorities show, regarding the actions of Rubicon anarchist group. On Tuesday, a Rubicon member threatened Mitsotakis via a post on social media. On Monday, about 70 members of the anarchist organization vandalized the Council of State building — Greece’s highest administrative court.
The fact that no arrests have been made on the numerous vandalism acts of the said group, has forced opposition parties to accuse the government of harboring the organization, and even condoning their acts. SYRIZA ministers and MPs have described the destructive acts of Rubicon as “activism”.
Mitsotakis also accused Tsipras of vile propaganda, due to the prime minister’s claims that the extreme-right elements of New Democracy are partly responsible for Saturday’s assault against Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris.
Regarding the issue of the end of the bailout program, Mitsotakis further accused Tsipras of lying to the Greek people about a “clean exit” from eight years of bailout programs in August, when in fact there are still harsh fiscal measures ahead that will be implemented in 2019 and 2020. He also said that the prime minister has falsely accused New Democracy and Mitsotakis of asking for a preventive credit line, after the end of the program.
Concerning the FYROM name issue, the main opposition leader said that the government went into negotiations without consulting with party leaders. He said that it is unacceptable that the Tsipras administration handles such a serious national issue without informing the Greek people of what exactly the government’s proposals are.
Movement for Change leader Fofi Gennimata asked the prime minister to call elections now, claiming that the current government does not have a strong majority to decide on the future of Greece.
Gennimata said that Tsipras has made secret deals with creditors for measures that will apply long after the bailout program ends, and called for an immediate recourse to the polls.
The Movement for Change leader said that the country needs political change immediately, namely a credible government with a plan, and the strength to implement a solid national policy. She also asked Tsipras to stop the polarization tactics he is using and to put an end to toxic politics.
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