Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-10-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Government to seek vote of confidence from Parliament next Monday

[02] SYRIZA's Tsipras calls for elections and strong mandate

[01] Government to seek vote of confidence from Parliament next Monday

The two party leaders in Greece's coalition government also decided that the process for the election of the new president of the Republic will go ahead as outlined in the Constitution, one month before the current president's term expires in February 2015, she said.

[02] SYRIZA's Tsipras calls for elections and strong mandate

In his message, Tsipras underlined that "after more than two years of strict implementation of the memorandum by the Samaras government, we have reached our limit. The country and our people experience an unheard-of disaster. Recession, unprecedented in a European country, destroys the economy, shuts down private businesses, skyrockets unemployment and forces more sections of society to poverty and despair".

Tsipras said that in Thessaloniki's TIF his party tabled specific commitments for the adoption of measures with an estimated cost that will stop the deep economic crisis. "The Thessaloniki programme, carefully processed and with an estimated cost, had a positive impact on society and caused panic to the tottering government of the memorandums," he noted.

"Today, we prove that we keep and mean our commitments. We have already completed the law preparation phase for the implementation of the Thessaloniki programme and we have tabled a draft bill in parliament with immediate measures aimed at dealing with the economy's suppression and its reset. Tomorrow, we will table a law proposal for the reinstatement of labour regulations and the minimum wage; and there is more to come."

Tsipras pointed out that "the law proposal we tabled today provides for immediate and realistic measures that will regulate debts to the tax bureau and social insurance funds, suspend the compulsory collection measures, introduce the option of out-of-court settlement of tax-related disputes and protect from the banks individuals who owe small amounts. It is the least that can be done to loosen the noose and allow society to breath and the economy to operate before the country is led to the polls; where the people will vote for us. It is either the Thessaloniki programme or the memorandum regime".

The SYRIZA leader said "today we give to the Greek Parliament the opportunity to take a stand on a comprehensive plan aimed at supporting households and small businesses. The government can show if it intends to contribute to the efforts aimed at tackling the crisis or consolidate the memorandum regime."

In conclusion, Tsipras pointed out that "Samaras and Venizelos should stop pretending that they negotiate with the troika," adding that the only way out for the country is elections and a strong mandate for the implementation of the National Reconstruction Plan and the tough negotiation on European level. "There is no other solution. The sooner the prime minister realizes it the better for the country," he underlined.

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