Greek premier proclaims end to austerity in policy statement

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Greek premier proclaims end to austerity in policy statement
| February 8, 2015 | Updated: February 8, 2015 2:29pm

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's prime minister has presented his newly-elected government's policy statement to lawmakers, proclaiming an end to the era of austerity and "five years of bailout barbarity."

Insisting on a "bridge agreement" that would give Greece and its creditors time to negotiate a new debt deal much more favorable to the country by June, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appeared to insist on an approach that got short shrift from EU partners in a series of meeting that Tsipras himself, and his finance ministers, had with European officials this past week.

Tsipras emphasized measures to provide for the poor and to clash with vested interests. But raising the minimum wage to pre-crisis levels was postponed until 2016.

Greek lawmakers will debate the policy statement and hold a confidence vote at midnight Tuesday.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Greek-premier-proclaims-end-to-austerity-in-6069780.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[Dont call me Shirley]

1. I smell a coup in the secret works of the austerity makers.

[another_liberal]

3. They'll follow the standard U.S. procedure . . .

First invest a few million on organizing the domestic opposition. Use social media to promote street demonstrations favoring a change in government. Bring in some street thugs (Golden Dawn might be useful) and build permanent barricades in the streets. When police are brought in to reestablish order, have Western media scream to the high heavens that they must be withdrawn. Then have those thugs start some Molotov cocktail fires, storm the Parliament and, "Bob's your uncle."

[Dont call me Shirley]

4. I pray they can hold on and weather the incoming storm.

[another_liberal]

5. Yes, so do I . . .

They carry the hopes of Europe's poorest and most needy with them.

[Dont call me Shirley]

6. And the birthplace of democracy.

That's why I suspect the plutocrats are trying so desperately to destroy Greece; destroy the place of origin, destroy the concept.

[quadrature]

2. coming soon... the new 'Drachma', being printed as I write this...nt

[freshwest]

7. Sorry, Judy, can't find anything more detailed than that piece, which is actually borrowed from AP:

That is the close up as he gave that speech here:



I don't see this speech as pointing a middle finger at the EU or the debt. He will make an offer in July, under different terms, but still pay the debt.

They are scarcely going it alone with this. I'm unsure why Greece refuses to go it alone and quit the EU.

I fear the people there will be disappointed again.