Syriza, the far left-wing and anti-austerity party in Greece led by Alexis Tsipras, nearly gained the majority during the national elections last Sunday (January 25). A victory that could be the starting point of a new era of anti-austerity policies in the EU. However, the big question whether Greece will have to pay its debt or not is still out there and Syriza will have to deal with its EU partners and creditors. During our weekly program “U talking To me?”, Kostas Chrysogonos, member of the Syriza party and of the European United Left at the European Parliament, said that Syriza is ready to make concessions.
This is the first time that a party refusing to adopt the austerity policies will lead an EU country. Alexis Tsipras is facing big challenges with his Syriza party.
According to Chrysogonos, the pressure will be high on Syriza, but he believes in compromise.
“This government will be under a heavy pressure from the EU institutions and form the other member states of the eurozone. This is obvious,” Chrysogonos said. “Europe has found its way through compromises and he must find an acceptable compromise once more, so that Greece can breathe.”
Concerning Greece’s public debt, which is around 320 billion euros and which represents more than 170 percent of its national domestic product, Chrysogonos explained that Syriza is ready to make efforts to find compromises with the EU creditors and partners, but admitted that it will hard regarding the big amount of Greece’s debt.
“This debt mountain is so heavy that it impedes Greek economy from recovering. As much as you would like to reform or transform Greek economy and society, it is not going to be able to service that debt. It is like trying to reform a donkey into a racing course. It is not possible,” Chrysogonos admitted.
He also added that Syriza doesn’t need new loans from the Troika, consisting of the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, because Greece has now a primary fiscal surplus in its budget and a current account surplus.
“U talking To me?” debate with Kostas Chrysogonos, member of Syriza, Greece
‘Podemos is an ally for us’
Syriza’s victory may inspire other anti-austerity parties in the EU, such as Podemos in Spain. Alexis Tsipras even said during a conference in Spain recently, where he was invited by the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias: “Podemos can become the Spanish Syriza.”
Chrysogonos welcomed this influence, because, he said, the EU needs different policies than the ones implemented in the past by the traditional political parties, such as the more right-wing parties in Spain or in Greece.
“Podemos in Spain is an ally for us, is a party of the European United Left,” he said. “And I think it would be a significant development for Europe if Podemos could win the forthcoming Spanish elections,” Chrysogonos stressed.
However, Tsipras surprised the Greeks the day after the elections (January 26) by agreeing to form a coalition with the populist right-wing Independent Greeks party.
Its leader, Panos Kammenos, told reporters in Athens on Monday afternoon that the two politicians had successfully formed a coalition and that the Independent Greeks party will give a vote of confidence to the new prime minister, Alexis Tsipras.
By gaining around 36 percent of the vote, Syriza only fell short two seats – 149 out of 151 – needed to govern alone.
Listen to the whole debate below (or watch it above)
- Author: Laeticia Markakis, Euranet Plus News Agency
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