Two years after resigning from the leadership of SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left – Progressive Alliance), Former Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, returned to the political stage at the Economist Conference in Thessaloniki.
In his address, he presented a nine-point recovery plan aimed at revitalizing the Greek economy and society, while sharply criticizing the current government’s policies.
He argued that Greece is once again “navigating with a broken compass” and warned that unless policy direction changes, “the country is heading for the rocks.”
A Dire Warning on the Current Path
Tsipras painted a bleak picture of Greece’s current trajectory. He described the nation as trapped by “old, bankrupt recipes” and stressed that announcements or handouts cannot change the fundamental outlook, which he called “not only disappointing but ominous.”
“The warning signs are clear,” Tsipras noted, pointing to social and economic indicators that reveal deep structural problems:
- 24th out of 27 EU states in public sector efficiency.
- 25th in the speed of judicial decisions.
- 26th in purchasing power.
“Does the government know this? Does anyone in the Prime Minister’s office hear the alarm bell, or are they listening only to what they want to hear?” he asked.
A Fund for the Next Generation
Central to his plan is the creation of a National Fund dedicated to supporting younger generations, financed by a so-called “Patriotic Contribution” from high-income groups and redistribution policies. This fund, he argued, would support education, research, innovation, and affordable housing for young people.
“We need a new patriotism,” Tsipras said, “one that values a healthy economy, a modern and resilient production model, social cohesion, and trust in institutions and the state as conditions for the country’s security and progress.”
Nine pillars of the National Recovery Plan
The nine key pillars of Tsipras’s National Recovery Plan, designed with a five-year horizon, are:
- A strong and fair state.
- Transformation of the production model.
- Support for labor.
- Energy resilience and security.
- Demographic resilience.
- Reduction of private debt.
- Technological upgrade and digital autonomy.
- Redistribution and a National Convergence Fund.
- National security.
He argued that without social cohesion, there can be no sustainable development. “The country urgently needs a major development shock, comparable to those under Trikoupis and Venizelos. Otherwise, Greece will lose the train of convergence and face another existential crisis.”
Harsh criticism of the government
Tsipras accused the ruling New Democracy government of failing to deliver reforms essential for economic and social recovery.
He denounced Greece’s decline relative to the EU, noting that before the financial crisis, per capita income was 80% of the EU average, while today it has dropped to around 60%.
“The government bears full responsibility,” he said, “for steering the country once again with the same failed recipes that led us here.”
Corruption as a structural threat
Turning to corruption scandals, Tsipras highlighted what he called a moral crisis undermining governance and public trust.
“Integrity is now a political, social, and economic necessity,” he said. “Corruption starting from government circles corrodes the state. Favoritism and cronyism spread through institutions, eroding faith in democracy.”
A call for a different Greece
Closing his speech, Tsipras contrasted the failures of the state with examples of civic responsibility, such as the late Athina Papachristou, who donated her savings to buy an ambulance.
“This is also Greece — a Greece of solidarity, creativity, and genuine patriotism,” he said. “We all have a duty to contribute so that the phrase ‘This is Greece’ becomes a statement of pride, not resignation.”
Tsipras’s roadmap for reform
By presenting his nine-point plan, Greek Former PM Tsipras signaled both a critique of the current government and an alternative vision for the future.
His proposals, focused on fairness, sustainability, and generational justice, aim to position Greece on a new path of resilience and long-term growth.
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