Skourletis: 'New Democracy adopts IMF-type reforms'

SYRIZA central committee party secretary Panos Skourletis on Friday accused the New Democracy government of adopting International Monetary Fund-type reforms, and noted there is a need for "social resistance" against these, speaking on Thessaloniki's Sto Kokkino FM radio.

"The two ultra-anti-labour rights amendments that were passed at the last minute by the government show just what New Democracy's policy is aiming at," said Skourletis, and added that "these reforms serve specific economic interests, and the government seeks to meet those interests only a few weeks after it assumed its duties."

Skourletis spoke of SYRIZA's "obligation is to not only seek those out but also reveal them. "This "is not a strictly political task," he pointed out, "I would say it is an invitation to social and political forces, that there must be, first and foremost, a front of resistance to this policy of New Democracy. This is pursued in many ways, obviously by being present in parliament, but also by work outside parliament," he added.

Skourletis finally pointed out that a strong (SYRIZA) political demeanor "presupposes a corresponding mass-appeal party, with a strong presence in social spaces and political struggles alike," he concluded.