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Parties slam Lagarde over tax evasion comments

Greece’s political leaders rounded on International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde following comments in an interview where she expressed more sympathy for children in Niger than those in Greece

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29 May 2012

Greece’s political leaders rounded on International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde following comments in an interview where she expressed more sympathy for children in Niger than those in Greece who were suffering from the crisis and suggested that Greeks were suffering payback for living well in previous years. 

Lagarde received more than 10,000 negative comments on her Facebook page, mostly from irate Greeks after the interview with The Guardian was published on Saturday. She issued a new statement late on Saturday to qualify her comments and said she was “very sympathetic to the Greek people and the challenges they are facing.” She added that a comment regarding rife tax evasion in Greece was a reference especially to “the most privileged.”

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras was unimpressed by Lagarde’s attempt to quell the controversy over her remarks and used the opportunity to chide rival parties. “The last thing that we are asking for in Greece is Mrs Lagarde’s sympathy,” he said. “Greek workers pay their taxes, which are unbearable. For tax evaders, she should speak to PASOK and New Democracy so they can explain why they have not touched big capital and have been chasing normal workers for the last two years.”

New Democracy said it was perplexed by Lagarde’s comments. “Although Mrs Lagarde recognized her mistake and retracted her statement, the average Greek must be wondering what she was trying to achieve with comments like this,” said party spokesman Yiannis Michelakis.

PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos welcomed the IMF chief’s clarification. “The tone of Mrs Lagarde’s comments was unacceptable. It was insulting,” he said. “There was a big reaction on the Internet and Mrs Lagarde was forced to retract what she said. I am glad about that because it shows that she is taking into account the reaction of a proud country and a proud people.”

Source: Kathimerini

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The response by many Greeks against Ms Lagarde highlights the impossible victim mentality mixed with overbearing pride our compatriots have. Ms Lagarde has always been a strong advocate for Greece in negotiations with Germany. And yes, I too feel more sorry for a poor Nigerian child than many in Greece who have to tone down their lifestyle to suit their pockets. Greeks are suffering and especially those in the margins, but surely they are not suffering like the starving of East Africa? Lambis SA
Submitted by LAMBIS on Tue, 2012-05-29 15:44.
Surely your being sarcastic here ?. Here is a larger excerpt of her Guardian interview....http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/25/payback-time-lagarde-greeks. From the looks of the photo i think Lagarde has been spending too much time in a tanning salon and its fried her brain. A few points of interest: 1. What the hell has the IMF ever done for Africa or any other region/country in the world ?. 2. Of interest is the fact that she doesnt pay taxes either on her mega salary ?...hot off the press... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/anger-over-lagardes-taxfree-salary-7801028.html 3. Has served in French politics in the areas of Trade and Economics...therefore possibly contributing directly to the mess that has become the EU? 4. Look at the record of the French in Africa, all good and well to care about them now, once your fore-bearers have finished pillaging parts of the continent of all its assets over a century. 5. Strong advocate of Greece, where, when. I have only heard this and her previous comments about how Greece has obligations. As for you feeling more sorry for a poor Nigerian child than many in Greece...who are these many....does it include people who have been paying their taxes for a lifetime and now can't get work or pensioners who find themselves on the breadline, does it include those that never had the opportunity to pay tax because there are no jobs ?
Submitted by evan on Wed, 2012-05-30 15:38.

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