Ladies and Gentlemen,
From the very first moment this vote of censure was asked, I have been wondering – and I suppose millions of Greeks are wondering too – why this happened and why now. And yet at a moment when our country and the entire Greek people are struggling to leave the crisis and the age of MOUs behind once and for all.
At the moment when the Greek government conducts constant and persistent negotiations to ensure better terms in implementing the agreements with our creditors.
At the moment when the vast majority of foreign governments, international organizations and mass media around the world are noticing our country’s large steps of progress and, moreover, are projecting that Greece will return to growth in 2014.
At the moment when we managed to overcome the bad circumstances of the financial crisis and restore Greece’s reliability, significant international role, image and trustworthiness in the international foreground.
So, it is this moment that the Opposition chose to ask a vote of censure against the government.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The vote of censure is a right attributed to SYRIZA on the ground of its institutional role as Opposition.
Nobody doubts that.
What, yet, we doubt about is their intention.
Our SYRIZA colleagues decided that, after the public TV building had been occupied for five months, the government should apologize simply because they did their job, they responded to their duty.
I remind my colleagues, who blame the government’s democratic calmness and prudence against the occupation of a building owned by the Greek people over the last months, that it is not only the Opposition that may be sensitive.
With all my respect to the opposite point of view, about which my opinion is clear – since I persist in my view that Democracy is a policy of synthesis – I really believe that the vote of censure was a wrong choice. And you will understand that very soon.
Because apart from the wrong message which it sends to society, it causes various ways of interpretation and questions about the opinion of the Opposition and I ask you honestly to reconsider your choices so as to ensure political stability and order which our country so much needs at this dire time.
And in this aspect, statesmen bear a big part of responsibility for the increasing citizens’ distrust to the political system which, definitely, includes also SYRIZA.
When will it finally be understood that this is not a good time to engage in petty party politics?
When will it finally be understood that the government’s struggle is national and that the nation’s unity is a matter of national survival now, more than ever?
Is it not time, ladies and gentlemen, for us to understand finally that Greece will never go back to past practices?
That we must not be bound to a clientelistic state and attached to obsessions and remnants of a destructive time for Greece?
Truly, does anyone in this room think that Greeks will believe again that “there is money”?
Let’s not invest, dear colleagues, in a national split.
Our country needs optimism, confidence and hard work.
This is exactly the task that the Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, has assumed.
No glory will come from a petty battle.
An insignificant struggle, dear SYRIZA colleagues, will never lead to a great glory.
Pay attention to Sophocles’ words and you will understand what I mean.
Opposition’s old and outdated speech which sometimes includes overreactions that poison the public debate does not comply with the democratic and political culture which the Left – at least theoretically – struggles for.
Dear colleagues,
The government gave time;
The necessary time for trade unionists to redefine their position.
It searched for a dialogue framework to enable them adapt their struggle to reality.
Being obsessed to a function model which in fact belongs to the past will not bring any good results.
And what statesmen should do now is help the Public TV and Radio gain an institutional independence from the government.
Didn’t we ask for it all these years? I remember that when we were the Opposition we accused the government of taking full control over the information through the Public TV. And it was the same with the next Opposition, as it had also been with the previous. I think we all agree to that and this must guide our policy on the Public TV. And this should be our concern today.
How to ensure an independent administration for the Public TV and not shut our eyes to reality through controversies.
Especially, in view of the Greek Presidency where the role of the public TV is crucial for a successful organization which requires objective and valid information to be provided to European people and, through this public information broadcaster, the Public TV, to mass media in Europe and throughout the world.
Therefore, what happens today must have one and only purpose:
How to enhance the quality of our democracy, through upgrading the quality of people’s information which, as we believe, serves our policy of reforming the services and function of the Public TV.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since it is clear that the vote of censure asked by the Opposition aims rather at dividing the parliamentary group of the New Democracy, I would like to assure you that our Parliamentary Group is united and firm. Determined to fight a battle for a better Greece. Our parliamentary group cannot be split. It remains united, staring at the future.
Attached to our country’s destiny.
Attached to the struggle for combating social injustice and protecting the sacrifices of the Greek people over the last years.
Attached to a purpose for which we must all cooperate, to reform our institutional system and re-establish a new, modern, functional and effective state.
Attached to the principles of transparency and proper utilization of public property.
I ask you in a strong sense of responsibility, moderation, seriousness, as it is required at this time, to give your vote of confidence to the government.
To give your vote of confidence for our common future.
Thank you.