Cheers and boos for Tsipras in the EP the day that Greece request rescue

USPA NEWS - The Government of Greece presented officially Wednesday to the European institutions the request of a third rescue. Although the amount thereof is not leaked, according to the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, covering the next three years.

According to Rajoy, in return for the third rescue the Greek Government provides "credible reforms" that will apply from next Monday. "Music sounds better than the music we've been listening to the last few weeks," Rajoy said at a press conference. "The letter, we will see on Thursday. We will see whether it is better or worse," added the president of the Spanish Government. The official request of a third rescue was confirmed by the ESM (European Stability Mechanism) to the Spanish Government, while in Strasbourg session of the European Parliament was held with the assistance of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Tsipras was greeted with applause by leftist groups of the European Chamber and booed by the other groups. In his speech, the Greek Prime Minister said that "we have a resounding mandate from the Greek people. We are not to clash with Europe but to change attitudes and practices" that have brought Greece to the current situation. Tsipras announced that this Thursday will present a package of "credible reforms" to be implemented in Greece as from next Monday if agreement with the EU on the bailout.

Such reforms, as the Greek Prime Minister will seek "redistribute efforts and charges" and will be part of a plan leading to a "rapid growth" of the Greek economy. At the same time, he called for "dialogue on debt sustainability" Greek. In this regard, he called for a "balanced agreement" to avoid a "historic breakthrough". Tsipras criticized for its lack of concrete proposals, but there were also praised MEPs who urged even pull his country out of the Euro zone.

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, said that "there is now a race against time to restore confidence." He refused to go to "discuss the pros and cons of the Greek referendum, on which everyone has their own perception," and argued that "we must now move forward, let go of the past". For his part, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, explained that "the response to the Greek crisis can not be turning his back on the need for progress in economic and monetary union.“

Juncker concluded his participation in the debate arguing that "it was a mistake to abandon the negotiating table." He maintained that failure to reach such an extreme, "we would have reached an agreement." He stated: "I have always been against cuts in pension levels affecting the poorest". Tsipras said that "the Greek crisis is the manifestation of the inability of the Euro area to find a lasting solution" also stated that the financial assistance of the European Union never made the Greek people but was used to save the banks.

And austerity programs did not achieve social acceptance in the country. "We have to face and accept the majority of the Greek people feel that the only option left is to seek a way out of this alley and this quagmire," he said Tsipras, also regretted that Greece has become a "laboratory of austerity". Laboratory failed to understand why his "poverty and public debt have soared."

Provocation

Manfred Weber, a German MEP, criticized the lack of proposals to negotiate by Tsipras. "You opted for provocation, committed us; you seek failure, we success; you would not like Europe, we love," before accusing Weber snapped: "You lie to his people, speaking of dignity but it does not tell the truth to its people." He also noted that five countries of the European Union are able to lower the Greek life and Greek leader questioned: "How can you say that Greece can not take any more cuts?"

Gianni Pittella, Italian Social Democrat MEP, said "there are conditions to reach an agreement this week and now it's up to the government to decide to support employment reforms, fight corruption, tax evasion, and all the necessary measures not because Europe imposes but because they will benefit of Greek citizens." He noted: "I think it's also appropriate to discuss the debt restructuring."

Ryszard Legutko, Polish MEP from the group of conservatives and reformers, said that "there is something rotten in Greece and in the European Union." He warned that if "the play continues," confusion about the target spread. "Who and what are we trying to save? A monetary union? A Greek society? The credibility of the Government? Creditors? The reputation of Angela Merkel? Or the infallibility of an even closer union?", he asked himself.

Guy Verhofstadt, Belgian liberal MEP, stressed the need for a clear and concrete plan of action. "For five years we have it routed sleepwalking towards a Grexit -out of Greece from the Euro zone- with the help and support of the extreme right," he said. "And during recent months we will run into a Grexit" warned before concluding: "And is not you or us who will pay the bill, are normal Greek citizens who run with the bill of a Grexit."

During his final speech, Tsipras brandished, compared to some of the accusations made by MEPs, that Greece had submitted proposals for reforms and has fought tax evasion. "Our proposals will include a firm commitment to achieve fiscal targets," he said. "However, you have the sovereign right to decide to increase taxation on profits of companies not on pensions," he added. He also recalled that Germany, after II World War, received the most solidarity possible when in 1953 he wrote off 60 percent of its debt. And after that it respects European standards, quoted Sophocles: "There are moments when the higher law of all human laws is justice for human beings."