"We are determined to move forward, to protect the agreement of July which, when implemented, will make our debt fully manageable," Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed in statements on Sunday during the scheduled press conference given each year by Greek prime ministers at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).
"I will not do anyone the favour of allowing the country to collapse," he stressed, shortly after Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos had announced a decision for a blanket tax on all buildings in the country.
"I would rather that we all lose something than that we should all lose everything for ever," Papandreou said, stressing that he was determined to take any decision was needed so as not to jeopardise the country's course and that Greece's commitments would be fully met.
The prime minister underlined that the country was experiencing an 'economic storm' and that he would not let anyone threaten Greece or make it a sacrificial victim.
He categorically ruled out the prospect of early elections, saying the government would not flee its responsibility and 'toss the hot potato' to someone else.
"The people do not want elections, they want changes. We are judged each day and we are fight a great battle," he stressed.
The prime minister was not sparing in his criticism of main opposition New Democracy, saying that he had given up on efforts for a broader consensus because of the main opposition "lack of maturity". He noted that several members of ND would have liked to support the government's effort.
Concerning the government's measures and the uniform public sector pay scale, he said there was no fear of lay-offs in the civil service, at least not in the near future, nor that civil servants pay would be slashed to about half their current levels.
Asked if he intended to propose the abolition of tenure for the civil service during the revision of the Constitution, he said that "there should be no taboos on what we discuss".
AMNA
