Prime Minister George Papandreou, addressing his PASOK party’s Parliamentary Group on Tuesday, announced the taking of tough but necessary measures for the salvation of the economy and the country.
The decisions on specific measures are expected to be taken during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
Papandreou described the state of the economy and of the country in dramatic tones, underlining that it is necessary for tough measures to be taken so that “we shall not experience the nightmare of bankruptcy” since, as he said, “creditors are not giving us time”.
The prime minister appealed to “Hellenism in its entirety to contribute to the effort for the country’s salvation and at the same time for the foundations to be laid for the new Greece that we deserve.”
He strongly criticised the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), the two parties that requested the postponement of Tuesday’s discussion at the Parliamentary plenum on the stability and growth programme, that they had called for.
Papandreou further said that things have reached their limits and on a daily basis “we are struggling with time,” while stressing the “danger of Greece going out to ask for a loan and finding the doors closed.”
He also said that he spoke with sincerity on what will happen if the decisisons that must be taken are not taken and if the government hides and behaves irresponsibly as others have done in the past.
In this case, he stressed, not only will the 14th and 13th salary be placed in danger but even more so, the pensions as well. “It might appear nightmarish but this is the truth,” he pointed out.
“I shall not allow the employees and the pensioners to be left to carry the burden,” Papandreou concluded.