'We will not continue a policy of catastrophe' says new Greek PM

Published on 28/01/2015 - 21:39

The new Greek government has made it plain it is serious about rolling back austerity set itself on a collision course with European partners

All eyes are on the new government in Greece, as it makes it plain that it is serious about rolling back years of austerity.

Despite heavy losses on the financial markets, the government has set itself on a collision course with its European partners.

After his first cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: “We won’t get into a mutually destructive clash, but we will not continue a policy of catastrophe and a policy of subjection.”

Already the government has put on hold privatisation plans agreed under its international bailout, ordered the reverse of some public sector layoffs and agreed pension rises for the poor.

One elderly man in Athens told euronews that people want the same salary structure they had before, with revenue spread out over 14 payments.

The ruling Syriza party is under enormous pressure from supporters to stick to its elections promises and defy international creditors.

Another man in Athens told euronews that his wage was very low. “A family can’t survive on just 480 euros a month, especially if they have kids.”

The new government maintains it has no intention to default on its debts or leave the eurozone.

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RT euronewskearney</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Greece?src=hash">#Greece</a> interview: what’s next for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tsipras?src=hash">#Tsipras</a> government? <a href="http://t.co/ct9ggyXq9v">http://t.co/ct9ggyXq9v</a></p>— euronews (euronews) January 28, 2015

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