Mitsotakis demands SYRIZA govt resign; 'cost of it staying in power too great'

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday demanded the resignation of the leftist SYRIZA-led government, stressing that the “costs” of it remaining in power are greater than whatever repercussions from its hasty withdrawal.

He spoke during an off-the-agenda debate in Parliament on justice issues, a session provoked by the government to ostensibly focus on various cases of high-level corruption in the country. Mitsotakis, who assumed ND’s helm on a reformist platform, charged that PM Alexis Tsipras stands before Parliament in a role more resembling a defendant rather than a prosecutor.

“You’d rather discuss corruption instead of talking about the refugee issue, unemployment and the economy,” he said, adding: “Greece cannot tolerate you anymore, if Parliament cannot provide a solution let the people give one.”

 Speaking earlier, Tsipras referred to three initiatives that will be undertaken by his coalition government – a majority SYRIZA bloc with the small right-populist Independent Greeks (AN.EL) party.

Specifically, he mentioned the establishment of a parliamentary committee of inquiry for the “shady” loans, as he said, granted to political parties and mass media outlets over the years. He promised a report by such a committee within two months.

His other initiative in the fight against corruption will be a letter to Parliament president Nikos Voutsis – who hails from within SYRIZA’s ranks – to re-examine all judicial indictments affecting political cadres who are protected from the courts due to an asylum law. Finally, he promised the establishment of yet another committee to re-negotiate, as he said, with German multinational Siemens over an out-of-court settlement paid by the latter to the Greek state four years ago after it was accused of paying kickbacks to win Greek state contracts.