Greece’s main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday in Brussels who warned him that Greece cannot afford to reach an impasse with lenders similar to last year and must meet the terms of the agreed bailout agreement.
Mitsotakis presented his party’s position that Greece belongs to the "inner core" of Europe and the Eurozone and said he "conveyed some images regarding the difficult times for Greeks, after seven and more years of economic and social crisis," as well as the fact that the vast majority consider Greece's place in the heart of Europe non-negotiable.
"We say a clear-cut no to a return to the drachma and those pushing such scenarios. Greece is and will remain a member of the Eurozone," he stressed.
Asked by Merkel on the proposed pension reforms by the Tsipras government, Mitsotakis explained that he is not prepared to support the coalition’s plan because it relies on increases to social security contributions.
"The Tsipras government has no plan for the economy's growth, for attracting investments, for creating jobs in the private sector," Mitsotakis noted, while its incompetence and dogmatic attitudes had also created "dangerous situations" with regard to the refugee and migration crisis.
"More than ever, the country now needs a national plan for regrouping and re-orgarnisation. I expressed our determination to make Greece a normal European state. Austerity without prospects and constant uncertainty are not what the Greek people deserve," he said.
The meeting between Merkel and ND's leader was held at the headquarters of the CDU party in Berlin and lasted for approximately an hour.
According to sources the ND leader discussed the unemployment and poverty in Greece, saying that the pace of reforms and changes must be accelerated whilst also asking for Berlin's political and practical support on the refugee issue.
