Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis launched a sharp attack on Alexis Tsipras over his decision to speak at the Thessaloniki International Fair before the prime minister.
Marinakis was the second government member, after Adonis Georgiadis, to use harsh language against Tsipras. Speaking on SKAI 100.3, the government spokesman described Tsipras’s move as arrogant, stating among other things:
“No matter how hard Mr. Tsipras tries to reinvent himself, whenever his name is placed next to the Thessaloniki Programme, people remember the chaos that followed. Tsipras and the Thessaloniki Programme are anything but reassuring.”
He added: “This is a tradition upheld by all opposition parties. When Kyriakos Mitsotakis was in opposition under Tsipras, he never dared to speak before the legitimately elected prime minister. Context matters. It is a long-standing custom — at the start of the year, all political parties are expected to present their programmes. This has been the practice for decades, and Mr. Tsipras is breaking that tradition.”
Marinakis: Tsipras is the last former prime minister a self-employed worker would take seriously
Regarding the economic proposals that the SYRIZA leader is expected to present, Marinakis said: “What sets Tsipras apart from all the other would-be wizards is that he actually served as prime minister — and during that time, he introduced or raised dozens of new taxes. Mr. Tsipras is the last former prime minister a self-employed worker would take seriously.”
On the government’s own Thessaloniki package and its priorities, the government spokesman stressed: “We must support those who play by the rules, the middle class, and families.” He described the housing crisis as a serious problem and noted that “as much money as possible must be directed toward families and small and medium-sized businesses — and we must not forget that a pensioner who may exceed the income thresholds set in previous years is not wealthy.”
Marinakis also took a veiled swipe at Antonis Samaras, reminding listeners that when Samaras was at Maximos Mansion, he pursued a policy grounded in international law and kept lines of communication open even during periods of tension.
“Following the right policy when you are prime minister, and then abandoning it when you are not — simply to appeal to an audience further to the right of your own party — does not serve the country in any way,” he said.
