"The lenders are effectively asking Greece to sign its own suicide note": Syriza-Economist Coastas Lapavitsas warns greek PM Alexis Tsipras of accepting the demands of international creditors - and proposes to leave the euro





Key parts from the interview on Der Tagesspiegel





“ Syriza was voted on the basis of its programme to lift austerity, which is both desirable and necessary for Greece. But the Eurozone insists on austerity. If Greece wants to stay in the Eurozone, it has to comply with austerity policies, it is clear. So SYRIZA has to decide which way to go. It is time for Plan B.”





“ If we will go back to austerity measures similar to those we have had during the last five years, this will be the end of Greece as an economy, as a society, as a country. There is no doubt about it. The lenders are effectively asking Greece to sign its own suicide note. We have to consider the other options.”





“ I want to trust the Syriza leadership, I believe that they have genuine left wing instincts. I also think that take very seriously the mandate they have received from the Greek people. I don't think they will accept this proposal which is against our programme. That will be the end of SYRIZA as a left-wing party.”





“ I see the issue like many SYRIZA MPs: we have a democratic mandate to implement our programme. Not to keep Greece in the Eurozone under all circumstances, that is not what the people voted for. We said, we have a programme, we want to implement it, and - but secondarily - we hope to do so within the Eurozone. If the deal doesn't allow us to implement our programme, than we have no mandate. For me, the question of voting in Parliament is a question of the obligation I have to my voters. I didn’t take part in the election for fun.”





“ ... we have to be really honest with the people. We have to tell them what the real options are. Until now the official position has been: we will achieve a good compromise, a mutually beneficial agreement. But the lenders are giving us nothing. It is time to prepare the Greek people for drastic action even without a deal with the lenders. An exit from the Eurozone would not necessarily be chaotic – there are people in Greece who know how to handle it. And there is reason to believe that it would open up a promising path for the country, certainly compared to the terrible deal that the lenders are offering. But the choice really belongs with the people. I am in favour of a fresh mandate, either a referendum or new elections, it could be done very fast if necessary.”





Source:









... new elections would be meaningful only if SYRIZA show determination and speak clearly and openly to the people. SYRIZA should ask wide majority in order to bring a deal without sacrificing a single point of its red lines. Then, in case that the lenders insist, SYRIZA should say that it has plan B, which is the exit from eurozone and return to national currency.

http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2015/06/elections-with-threat-of-grexit.html





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