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Free AccessMNI INTERVIEW: Syriza Claim Success On Progressive Agenda
--Syriza Official Defends Party's "Dual Strategy" To MNI
--Looks Confidently At 2019 Greek And European Elections
--Opposition Says Syriza's Policy Keeps Economy Below Its Potential
By Jean Comte
ATHENS (MNI) - The Greek government continues to pursue a progressive
agenda despite the various austerity measures currently under implementation,
Yiannis Bournous, Syriza's head of European policy, told MNI.
"We are pursuing a dual strategy: complying with the memorandum of
understanding, while expanding social services and welfare state," Bournous
said.
Strengthening the welfare state constitutes the core of the left-wing
party's progressive agenda. It includes three major strands of work: better
protection of people below the poverty threshold, improvements in the public
health system, and an upgrade of the public education system.
"We hired 5,000 officials in the health system, we provided means for the
2.4 million Greeks who have no social insurance, and we started to develop a
network of local medical centres," he said.
"And in September 2017, every public school started the year with all
teaching books delivered and a full staff -- that was actually a small
revolution, it usually never happens before December."
The government has put forward a set of positive figures, including
expected 2% GDP growth in 2017, which could reach 2.4% in 2018.
Unemployment is expected below 23% in 2017 -- its lowest level since 2012.
The draft 2018 budget tabled earlier this week plans a primary record surplus of
E6.671 billion, which will be used to support vulnerable households according to
Greek media reports.
The opposition is not convinced though, claiming that these political
choices are keeping the economy below potential.
"Greece has the potential to reach an annual 4% GDP growth per year -- not
2% or 2.5%," a senior source from New Democracy told MNI.
The conservative party is arguing in favour of a radically pro-business
agenda: a reduction of E1.9 billion from the tax burden, balanced by a 2 billion
euros cut in public spending. In parallel, the party plans to reform the product
and service market, and to "aggressively" promote privatisation.
ELECTIONS AHEAD
Both parties are already preparing for the next national elections, planned
for 2019 -- along with municipal, regional and European votes. Current polls
clearly give the advantage to New Democracy, credited with 30 or 35% of the
vote, whereas Syriza is between 15 and 17%.
Bournous nevertheless hopes that Syriza can stay in power. He is counting
on the 15% of voters who are undecided turning to the left-wing party when
seeing the success of the "dual strategy" and its implementation of the
progressive agenda.
But New Democracy said that further austerity measures are waiting down the
line -- a E5.1bln package entailing further cuts in pension's according to the
source.
Syriza might therefore be trapped between calling snap elections with
negative polls, or waiting for further austerity measures to kick in and lose
further popularity, the source suggested.
--MNI Brussels Bureau; +44 203-865-3851; email: tara.oakes@marketnews.com
--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: M$E$$$,M$X$$$,M$Y$$$,MC$$$$,MI$$$$,MGX$$$]
To read the full story
Sign up now for free trial access to this content.
Please enter your details below.
Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.