Επάγγελμα δημοσιογράφος

Η συνιστώσα Siemens της ΝΔ

«Ανάγκη για επαναθεμελίωση της Ευρώπης σε βάσεις δημοκρατίας»

Οι εξελίξεις στην ευρωζώνη επιβεβαιώνουν το βαθιά συστημικό χαρακτήρα της κρίσης, ως αποτέλεσμα της κυρίαρχης πολιτικής του νεοφιλελευθερισμού, των μνημονίων της λιτότητας και της ύφεσης.  Όσοι  υποστήριζαν με σθένος τον αμιγώς «ελληνικό» χαρακτήρα της κρίσης και τις μνημονιακές συνταγές ως απάντηση σε αυτήν και απέρριπταν μετά βδελυγμίας κάθε ευρωπαϊκή παρέμβαση στην κατεύθυνση της στήριξης της ανάπτυξης και της απασχόλησης, τώρα βρίσκονται αντιμέτωποι με τα αδιέξοδα της πολιτικής τους πρότασης.
ΤΟ ΠΑΣΟΚ και η ΝΔ δεν έχουν καμία πρόταση για την έξοδο από την κρίση, αναμασούν τα επιχειρήματα των δανειστών και είναι απόλυτα δεσμευμένοι στη μνημονιακή πολιτική. Η μόνη ρεαλιστική πρόταση για την Ελλάδα και την ευρωζώνη είναι αυτή του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ και της Ευρωπαϊκής Αριστεράς, η επαναθεμελίωση της Ευρώπης σε νέες βάσεις δημοκρατίας, αλληλεγγύης, ανάπτυξης, στήριξης της εργασίας και του κοινωνικού κράτους.

Samaras gives his commitment

by Costas Papachlimintzos 15 Feb 2012

Antonis Samaras (file photo) Antonis Samaras, the leader of New Democracy, has sent a letter, demanded by eurozone leaders, committing himself to implementing a new austerity package, his New Democracy party said on Wednesday.   The signed letter was sent to the heads of the European Union, International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and the Eurogroup, his party said.   In the two-page letter, Samaras said he committed his party “to the stabilisation programme's objectives and key policies and to their successful implementation”.   However, repeating a message conveyed in a previous letter sent in November, Samaras underlined that "policy modifications might be required to guarantee the full programme's implementation".   Jean Claude Juncker, the Eurogroup chairman, had requested from the two leaders that support Lucas Papademos' coalition government - George Papandreou and Antonis Samaras - to provide written pledges  that they would implement the austerity package of pay, pension and job cuts.   Full text of Samaras’ letter:    As I have already stated in my letter to you of November 23, 2011, my Party, Nea Demokratia, is committed to the Stabilization Program's objectives and key policies and to their successful implementation. The same holds, of course , for the MoU/MEFP, which was voted last Sunday by the Greek Parliament via a large majority of MP's. In particular my Party is committed:   • To promote competitiveness and growth, support the deep structural reforms in the labor, product and service markets and the ambitious privatization plan under the program. The agreed adjustment of labor market parameters, will hopefully give a strong upfront impetus to promote employment and economic activity. This is especially true for an economy already in deep recession for many years and whose unemployment level is well over 20%.   • To restore market confidence and fiscal sustainability, while protecting the vulnerable members of the population. We support upfront implementation of structural spending measures and continued efforts to control spending and prevent arrears, already reaching 3% of GDP. Indeed, bold revenue reforms should deliver a fairer distribution of the tax burden and should stem tax evasion.   • To help secure financial stability. We support the implementation of the program's comprehensive banking sector strategy, through stronger resolution and financial oversight framework and banks' recapitalization plans, which are aimed both at ensuring the promotion of public interest and at respecting banks' business autonomy.    We are obviously committed to a rapid implementation of the official sector and PSI financial strategy with our European partners. This will help Greece achieve its targeted fiscal sustainability objectives and provide the necessary financing to support our country's adjustment and reform efforts.   If Nea Demokratia wins the next election in Greece, we will remain committed to the Program's objectives, targets and key policies as described in the MoU/MEFP.   As I have already stated in my previous letter (of November 23, 2011), we continue to give "great emphasis to allowing for prompt recovery, so that public revenues generated will help us achieve the targets set". Indeed, prioritizing recovery along with the other objectives, will only make the Program more effective and the adjustment effort more successful. Therefore, as my previous letter underlines, policy modifications might be required to guarantee the full Program's implementation. And, once again, we intend to bring these issues to discussion along with viable policy alternatives, strictly within the framework outlined by the Program, so that the achievement of its objectives will not be put at risk.   Sincerely,   Antonis C. Samaras   President of Nea Demokratia

Samaras addresses letter to creditors

by Costas Papachlimintzos 23 Nov 2011

In the latest move in the power game over the written commitment that EU leaders have asked Pasok and New Democracy to cosign, Antonis Samaras on Wednesday sent a letter to the European Union and IMF reiterating his support for the new prime minister and for fiscal adjustment targets.   He noted, however, that “certain policies have to be modified”.   The New Democracy leader, who has been under heavy pressure for over a week to sign such a letter, sent the letter to the European Commission, the ECB, the IMF and the Eurogroup.   On Wednesday evening Prime Minister Lucas Papademos received Samaras at the Maximos Mansion. The prime minister briefed the ND leader on his contacts over the previous days in Brussels, Luxembourg and Frankfurt.   The two men also discussed, in depth, the issue of political party leaders' signatures.   The content of Samaras's letter largely resembles the one he sent to the leader of the European People's Party on November 13, the text of which was published on Tuesday.   It was not immediately clear whether the letter would satisfy the EU and IMF, who have demanded all Greek political parties sign a written commitment to back austerity measures beyond the term of the current national unity government.   Earlier on Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that if Samaras did not sign, an 8bn euro bailout payment would not be released.   What follows is the full text of the Samaras letter:   Athens, November 23, 2011   As stated in the meeting of the three Party Leaders under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic C. Papoulias: “it has been agreed upon that the task of the new Government will be to materialize the decisions taken at the European Council of October 26th 2011 and to implement the economic policies linked to those decisions”.   The new Prime Minister has already pledged to fulfil this task.   Nea Demokratia [New Democracy] is committed to support the new Prime Minister.   Nea Demokratia is strongly committed to the success of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms, rebuilding market confidence and fostering economic growth.   Nea Demokratia fully supports the targets of fiscal adjustment, regarding all issues on eliminating the deficit and reversing the debt dynamics; it also supports “tools” already implemented (albeit poorly); namely, public expenditure cutting, fighting tax evasion, structural reforms, privatization programs and capitalizing on idle real estate public property.   On the evidence of the budget execution so far, we believe that certain policies have to be modified, so as to guarantee the Program’s success. This is more so, since according to the latest European Economic forecasts, Greece in 2012 will be the only European country with 5 consecutive years in recession!   We intend to bring these issues to discussion, along with viable policy alternatives, strictly within the framework outlined by the Program. We give great emphasis to allowing for prompt recovery, so that public revenues generated will help us achieve the targets set.   We also attribute special emphasis to the implementation procedures which have to be streamlined and upgraded.   The commitment of the Greek people and of Nea Demokratia to the European Union and the Euro is strong and irrevocable.   Nea Demokratia believes that Greece can get out of the crisis and safeguard its social cohesion. We are committed to make that happen.   Sincerely,   Antonis C. Samaras President of Nea Demokratia