Samaras: There is still hope for a viable government

In his speech at the first meeting of the ND parliamentary group, Antonis Samaras spoke of the possibility of a government formation, saying that "the political landscape makes it difficult to create a viable government, but we are fighting for it and there is still hope."

Samaras outlined a proposal for a government composed of PASOK-ND-Democratic Left by a tolerance vote from SYRIZA, but warned he is ready for elections as well. "We didn’t win the strong mandate that we wanted but we got a strengthened role to secure the interests of the country."

"We stand on the path of realism and we talked about specific changes which, along with the proposed measures, can bring growth", said Samaras.

"We are entering a new era. We told the truth to the world, put all the necessary changes on the agenda, issues that were prohibited are now dominating the agenda and our proposals are being accepted. We proposed a revision of the Constitution. Now even Venizelos accepts the renegotiation of the memorandum. Even sections of the Left swear that they want to stick to the euro."

He then launched an attack on SYRIZA, accusing them of inconsistency before and after the elections and that while speaking about staying in the euro, their actions lead to the opposite result. "They behave like a sorcerer's apprentice at the expense of the people. They brought our country’s risk of exiting the euro with their supposed government proposals. Imagine if they meant it."

"We gave two alternatives: Ecumenical government of national rescue with two conditions; the stay of the country in the euro area and renegotiation of the memorandum for prosperity and growth. These conditions are well received by four parties. If they don’t get accepted, our alternative proposal is to form a government with the other forces but with our vote of tolerance. The only requirement here is to remain in the euro", Samaras said.

"I handed our proposal to Venizelos today and it is similar to that of Kouvelis. So, there is basic agreement. But SYRIZA is preparing for elections which will occur because of them”, the ND president added.

"If they push things to the polls with an anti-European Left front, they will then come up against a more powerful European Center-right front. It will be established by ordinary voters who either did not vote or voted for smaller parties and now realize that the country needs a government; it will also be set by our initiatives for unity throughout the Center-Right. We need to act wisely and calmly."

The mandate we received makes us guardians of stability and our European conquests, Samaras said, adding that "we should save the country from the populism of SYRIZA that does not differ in any way from that of PASOK. The proposals of SYRIZA are the same as Papandreou’s “the money does exist”. Let Tsipras go to Europe and negotiate not paying. If Tsipras continues like this, his name will enter the monument of populism next to that of Georgios Papandreou."

Samaras concluded by saying that "we want a government solution, but we are also preparing for new elections. The European front is focusing on national positions, and we are keeping a distance from SYRIZA which, at times, is saying that it wants to give asylum to 1.5 million immigrants, at others that the Aegean belongs to its fish and at others abandons the name of our Macedonia."