After the approval by the German parliament of a four-month extension for the loan agreement between Greece and its creditors, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, in a statement released exclusively to euronews, welcomed the decision and explained the Greek plan for the coming months.

In his comments, Tsipras:

the vote was recognition that Greece has “turned a new page”

praised Greek citizens for discovering a “new tax consciousness”

predicted the collapse of “cartels” which he accused of trying to control the economy

The whole statement follows:

“Greece has overcome a difficult obstacle.

“This is the time for the reforms that our country needs and which no government ever sought, because there were commitments with powerful interests.

“It has been proven that Europe can move on, when there is political will; that it can overcome deadlocks and seek alternative ways to growth; that it can put the common future of European people as a priority.

“The German parliament gave Europe a vote of confidence today.

“We welcome our German colleagues’ vote, as a political act of common sense and democracy. As an act which ratifies the double respect which characterizes us:

“Respect, on one hand, to the common rules of the European Union and the Eurozone, as reflected in the Treaties and, on the other hand, to the principle of popular sovereignty as expressed through people’s vote in the Eurozone member-states.

“Europe has now recognised that Greece has turned a new page.

The new government of social salvation, having the constant and strong support of a wide social majority, starts the effort to make reforms, in order to change Greece, as we promised before [the] elections.

“We start the relentless effort to recover fiscal and social justice and, at the same time, to increase public revenues.

“Our political will to make those not used to paying pay their own share is now being translated into action, contributing to the formation of a new tax consciousness of the citizens.

“We are building an effective public administration with respect to the citizens and the taxes they pay.

“The various, small and big cartels of established interests, which attempt, even today, to control public administration and the economy, will collapse. Meritocracy, transparency, equal opportunities everywhere, with the appropriate social sensitivity and the rule of law will be the trademark for the new Greece of tomorrow.

“We start working hard, in order to change Greece within a Europe that changes direction.”