Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras laid
out plans on Sunday to dismantle Greece’s “cruel” austerity programme,
ruling out any extension of its international bailout and setting
himself on a collision course with his European partners.
In
his first major speech to parliament since storming to power last
month, Tsipras rattled off a list of moves to reverse reforms imposed by
European and International Monetary Fund lenders: from reinstating
pension bonuses and cancelling a property tax to ending mass layoffs and
raising the mininum wage back to pre-crisis levels.
Showing little intent to heed warnings
from EU partners to stick to commitments in the 240 billion euro
bailout, Tsipras said he intended to fully respect campaign pledges to
heal the “wounds” of the austerity.
Greece
would achieve balanced budgets but would no longer produce unrealistic
primary budget surpluses, he said, a reference to requirements to be in
the black excluding debt repayments.
“The
bailout failed,” the 40-year-old leader told parliament to applause.
“We want to make clear in every direction what we are not negotiating.
We are not negotiating our national sovereignty.”
In
a symbolic move that appeared to take direct aim at Greece’s biggest
creditor, Tsipras finished off his speech with a pledge to seek World
War II reparations from Germany.
Tsipras
ruled out an extending the bailout beyond Feb. 28 when it is due to
end, but said he believed a deal with European partners could be struck
on a so-called “bridge” agreement within the next 15 days to keep Greece
afloat.
