Tsipras claims a moral highground

Some clarity has appeared on the Greek side in the deadlock of negotiations with the international creditors. The Greek leader Alexis Tsipras accused the so-called troika of pillaging the country for the past five years and vowed not to give in to the creditors further austerity demands.

The creditors, represented by the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission have finally admitted that if Greece will fully applied the proposed austerity measures, it will not solve country financial situation and that it is not feasible for the country to repay all the money it has borrowed from its counterparts.

The Greeks on the other hand have hardened their stance by clearly defining their perspective. The head of the extensively called in the mass media “radical� left Syriza party, Alexis Tsipras has voiced Greek leaders opinion after the failed negotiations on Sunday:

“One can only suspect political motives behind the fact that the institutions insist on further pension cuts, despite five years of pillaging via the memoranda. The Greek government has been negotiating with a specific plan and documented proposals. We will wait patiently till the institutions adhere to realism. Those who consider our sincere wish for a solution as well as our efforts to bridge the gap as a sign of weakness, should have in mind the following:

We are not only carrying a historical past underlined with struggles. We are carrying our people’s dignity as well as the aspirations of all Europeans. We cannot ignore this responsibility. It is not a matter of ideological stubbornness. It has to do with democracy.�

The statement provoked a large amount of criticism within the mainstream media it is however finally demonstrated the strength and standing behind their values of the Greek government. This action can be admired as correlation of powers, therefore the pressure for the indebted country to silently accept the creditors “proposals� is enormous. The European Commission warning that Greece would collapse in a state of emergency in case of disagreement, has spread the fear of uncertainty further, reducing the public support for the Greek PM’s actions.

Given all the above, not many would expect such an action of the Greek Government. This moral stand is a good beginning but still far from the winning the end game. Currently, one of the biggest challenges Tsipras faces is in his own country.

In his party’s election memorandum, Tsipras pledged that his government will resist additional austerity measures such as pension and public sector salaries cuts. On the other hand, as the recent polls have shown, the Greek population is also not willing to exit from the European Monetary Union and return to the Drachma, even though these actions are mutually exclusive.

Dealing with the situation at home either by calling a referendum or giving more explanation to the Greek people in order to achieve more unity and support seems to be the most reasonable thing for Tsipras to do in a short term.