Greece, between continuing in the euro zone and reforms – The Economist

Greece, between continuing in the euro zone and reforms – The Economist

The unemployment rate reaches 25%, the highest in the area, with spending cuts.

Antonis Samaras, Greek Prime Minister wants to continue with reforms. Photo: AP

The leader of the leftist Greek SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras said that if he wins the election formation of January 25, the country remain in the eurozone, but will fight austerity policies that “are ruining Europe.”

“It is clear that from any point of view Greece will leave the euro,” said Alexis Tsipras, in an interview Greek weekly Real News.

For weeks, stock markets have been hit by nervousness operators, amid fears that if Syriza wins the elections of January 25, Greece could leave the euro .

To Tsipras, the idea that Greece could leave the euro zone is an affair of 2012, when the deepening crisis led the country to apply for two international bailouts 240,000 million.

“The weather is completely different now,” he said.

“The only person who is talking about this possibility (outgoing Prime Minister) Antonis Samaras, but this has been denied day after day by senior European officials, “said the leader of SYRIZA. Last week, the European Commission said that membership of the euro zone is “irrevocable”.

Prime Minister promised reforms and lower taxes

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister and leader right, Antonis Samaras wants to continue with reforms, strengthening competitiveness and lower taxes in a “gradual,” the political program presented with a view to elections on January 25.

” Our national plan of reforms and growth 2015-2021 includes reforms to promote growth and competitiveness, “said the Prime Minister before several hundred ministers, leaders, members and supporters of his party New Democracy, meeting in Athens.

“The changes in the reforms” go through follow sanitation and public sector measures “to facilitate competitiveness and investment,” he said.

“Some want a public sector patronage,” said Prime Minister, referring to its main rival, Alexis Tsipras, frontrunner.

The signs of this timid improvement are not yet visible in a society that still has the unemployment rate highest in the euro area (over 25%), and where poverty affects over 20% of the population, because of cuts in public spending and the dismantling of the welfare state.

To overcome these problems, the prime minister promised: “A social state and a safety net for low-income” and “the gradual reduction of taxes” on income and wealth, that suffocated the Greeks

“Our national goal is a new production base,” prioritizing “free competition” and “creating 700,000 jobs by 2021,” said Samaras. He also promised that there will be no “reducing pensions or income.”

“This is the Greece of growth and not populism which will win” the legislative elections of January 25, he said.