President calls for reinforcement of financially weaker strata

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias called for the reinforcement of the financially weaker strata, during the traditional exchange of New Year wishes with political leaders on Saturday at the Presidential Mansion.

 Asked
by the press if he considered the country's social cohesion a priority, the President replied in the affirmative, but stressed that social cohesion arises from a clampdown on the crimes against the Greek people. "It is not possible that those who evade paying their taxes rush to the state hospitals to be treated. This is unacceptable," he said. 

 To a question whether the most difficult times have been left behind with 2010 or are yet to come in 2011, Papoulias replied that there will be difficulties in 2011 "but I believe that the road that will lead us to a good 2012 is slowly opening up". 

 Asked if he fears social reactions, the President said that despite the fact that the weaker strata are suffering, they have nevertheless realised that there is no other path. 

 "We need to treat that path, and they have a persistence that I admire. But on the other hand, because I, too, have gone through hard times in my life, the Greek people faced such periods with great courage and with the hope that tomorrow will be better," he said. "I believe this is happening today, too...The powers that be need to facilitate the tolerance the Greek people are showing, and when I say facilitate, I mean that they must definitely reinforce, at least financially, the lower incomes," Papoulias stressed.

ANA