Samaras: «The government is somewhere else»

ND president Antonis Samaras launched a fierce attack against the government, saying that it is faltering and its politicians are resorting to cheap tricks.

Speaking at the 3rd meeting of the ND Political Committee, he said «The government has reached a state of semi-disintegration and semi-paralysis. It is not just some arrhythmias in its work, but accumulated and recurrent outbreaks of confusion and recanting». Former party president Konstantinos Karamanlis was present in today’s meeting.

Referring to what followed the Troika interview, he spoke of a "epic/ lyrical drama with complaints from the government spokesman, rebuttals from the Finance minister, rebuttals from the PM himself and rebuttals of the PM’s rebuttals as well".

As indicative incidents of the «government’s confusion» he mentioned the semi-open spaces circular that was taken off before being issued, the public disagreements on the tax bill, the role of the attorney of financial crimes as well as the disagreements between the ministers of Environment and Infrastructure. «We completely agree with the description given by an historical PASOK member: three are speaking and two are
dancing» Samaras said.

He referred to his proposal of last July about the development of real estate. "We said last year that the memorandum does not come out, that the memorandum does not stop, but reinforces and feeds the dynamics of deficits and debt", and added, "we were accused then and now they agree with us. When PASOK sought consensus they really wanted complicity." He recalled his own proposal: "We also said last year that we
should use the inactive property of the State otherwise we will not come out of the vicious cycle of debt. We said on July 7 that the property is over 300bil and that we can find 50bil in development and not divestment. Last Friday the Troika acknowledged the estimate of 50bil, and the government initially endorsed this position, then the
government spokesman denounced the Troika, then the Troika called for divestment and not development and suggested selling this and that and then came the PM and said 'we will not sell anything and will make a law that prohibits this and will include it in the Constitution and then we discovered that initially the government had signed for the sale of State property. So, Papandreou promised to make a law that will ban what he has committed himself to doing".

They are asking us why we disagree, Samaras said, and continued «Agree with what? The government’s proposals or the Troika’s, which are asking for a sale? Everybody has realized that the memorandum leads to a dead end, the Troika has realized that without development the debt couldn’t be dealt with». He maintained that development is one thing and divestment another. «The State can add value to its real estate property.

There are the PPPS and long-term leases, and we can also collect future revenue in advance without losing ownership of the property. There are strong arguments for the use of property, not its sale, but it must be developed, not trespassed upon».

He accused the government of losing opportunities to enhance tourism in the wake of the crisis in the Arab countries of the Mediterranean as well as the promotion of the country's positions on immigration, now that deep concern is expressed by other countries such as Spain and France. He announced that at the end of March he will present an updated financial proposal to address the economic crisis and the relief of the weaker classes. He reiterated his proposal for a survey from judges on financial matters of all who have served as ministers and vice ministers from 1974 onwards.

Continuing his attack on the government, he said «We do not bend under pressure, or fall into traps, or deviate from our course. All these developments show that we have passed the turning point and we have a fair wind.»