Former prime minister Alexis Tsipras re-appeared on political “stage” on Thursday with the publication of an interview he gave to the French daily Le Monde, where he talks about the controversial 2015 referendum, Greece’s exit from the bailouts, and the current political situation in the country.
He also harshly criticized the current Mitsotakis government. Tsipras lost in successive general elections to center-right New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the incumbent prime minister.
Tsipras also touched on the punishing austerity measures imposed on the country, before criticizing what he called “increased inequalities” under the current government.
At the same time, he commented on his apparent absence from active politics – although still a deputy in Parliament – refuting reports that he is planning to return with a new party.
On the occasion of the seventh anniversary of Greece’s exit from the memorandum (bailout conditions) contraints, Tsipras cited what he called the “truth” about the critical period of the nearly decade-long economic crisis. Touching on the 2015 referendum, he stressed that his goal was to achieve a better outcome for the Greek people.
“It was a way, through a form of dramatization, to achieve concessions from the creditors. And we succeeded in part,” he said, noting that Greece was able to restructure its public debt and regain its economic autonomy in August 2018.
