Regarding today's announcement (read below) by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the Press Office of the CC of the KKE issued the following comment (Source: 902.gr).
"When the government votes in the Parliament another budget with new taxes and cuts for the people and prepares a new blow to the working-people's rights for the sake of the second evaluation and Eurogroup decision, the governmental announcements, which distribute "crumbs" - from the bloody surpluses- to the most impoverished people that its own policy creates multiplies, cannot be regarded as anythng but provocative mockery.
Even worse, they aim to persuade the people to forget any sense of right and to compromise with the minimum and the sums benefits-"crumbs".
The answer to the Prime Minister and his government was given today by the working people with their mass mobilizations, in the framework of the General, nationwide strike, the success of which forced the Prime Minister to resort to this night statement".
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PM pledges benefits for pensioners, triggers speculation of snap polls
From Kathimerini (Bourgeois/Conservative newspaper), 9.12.2016.
In a bid to ramp up the government’s social profile, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented a package of measures to benefit low-income pensioners late Thursday in a televised address to the nation.
He also announced the suspension of the measure to increase value-added tax on the islands of the northern Aegean which have borne the brunt of the migration crisis.
The prime minister’s address coincided with the ongoing negotiations with Greece’s international creditors – to complete the second review of the country’s third bailout – which are hanging in the balance.
He also announced the suspension of the measure to increase value-added tax on the islands of the northern Aegean which have borne the brunt of the migration crisis.
The prime minister’s address coincided with the ongoing negotiations with Greece’s international creditors – to complete the second review of the country’s third bailout – which are hanging in the balance.
The timing of his announcement of socially minded measures could spark off speculation regarding the government’s plans over the course of the next few month as Tsipras has hinted that snap polls could not be ruled out if negotiations with creditors reach an impasse. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos dismissed the prospect of further measures in order to reach agreement with creditors over fiscal targets beyond 2018.
Tsipras said that 1.6 million pensioners receiving up to 800 euros per month will immediately receive a special supplement which will be proportional to the pension they receive.
Regarding VAT, he said the government will stick to its commitment for a uniform tax around the country, but insisted that this will not apply on the islands of the northern Aegean as long as they continue to struggle under the pressure of hosting large numbers of migrants.
