Tsipras: If Merkel is self-destructive we’ll return to the drachma

During an interview with the Athens News Agency (ANA), Tsipras explained that "our clear goal is the country staying in the euro and without the devastating effects of this policy. We have allies in this fight and as a weapon, we have the fact that if a country leaves the euro, Europe will start disintegrating, a view shared by Prodi and the Austrian prime minister. I cannot guarantee that Merkel will not make self-destructive choices and that the euro will be united to eternity. Greece must cease being the Spinalonga of Europe. We must convince our partners that we have a common interest in changing the conditions, moving to a new deal, a new Marshall plan that would be a winning situation both for us Greeks and the rest of the Europeans. If we cannot do this, we will look for other options."

They seek consent and not an ecumenical government

The SYRIZA leader said that those clamoring for his presence in an ecumenical government "want consent" and that during the meeting from which Papademos’ government emerged, no one "asked us to take part."

He noted that the commitments of Evangelos Venizelos and Antonis Samaras to the Troika "are personal" and not national, and reiterated that "SYRIZA is not going to legalize what the people have de-legalized. PASOK and New Democracy want SYRIZA in a parliamentary and memorandum hostage situation. They do not want to withdraw their signatures and will put us in front to get rid of the first chance they get… They treat us like children. How can we side with them?" He added that he sees a match between PASOK-ND-Democratic Left for a government formation and urged the President of the Republic to investigate the matter.

If we become suboptimal, the Golden Dawn will become the opposition

Tsipras also said that "the Greek economy is in bad shape and everyone knows this" and hinted that an attempt is being made to "charge SYRIZA" with the fate of the bond expiring in the coming days, saying "yesterday’s meeting addressed the question of what will happen to the bond that expires and I think it is unacceptable that those who ruled us do not have a proposal and expect an answer from Tsipras, Papariga and Kammenos. 75 billion euros were gone during the years of their governance and this is because they raised the issue of the return to the drachma. They govern by blackmail and dilemmas. We will not cancel the hope of the people. If we do it and become suboptimal, then the Golden Dawn will become the opposition. We are not afraid to govern."

He called those who believe that SYRIZA has no experience of government "to compare our economic team to that of PASOK and New Democracy. Our staff consists of key people who can get along because our policy will be in harmony with the popular will."

Tsipras spoke about the immigration issue by highlighting the need for solidarity from the EU to "reconstruct the ghettos, support businesses, create reception centres", while on the subject of the EEZ and the utilization of energy reserves stated that "we all saw what our brother party in Cyprus has done in this sector. We have people with knowledge and willingness to work for the interests of the country and its citizens with a sense of historic and national responsibility."

Tsipras explained that during the next few days SYRIZA will proceed to the necessary legal steps in order to be logged as a single party and not as a coalition to avoid losing the bonus of the 50 seats.

Lastly, commenting on the statements by Alavanos, who connected the termination of the memorandum with the return to the drachma, he said that "those who express such views would not want to become tools of the urban forces that fight against the Left", while about the Communist Party, he said it has severed its links with the masses.