Opposition taking turns knocking PM

The “fairy tale” of ruling conservative New Democracy and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will end with the general election on May 21, main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras assured this weekend.

“The Greek people will turn their backs on injustice, exploitation, devaluation and corruption,” the leftist party leader said during a speech on Saturday morning in the southern Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni, where he met with citizens and shopkeepers.

Tsipras used the occasion to lash out at the political establishment and family dynasties that, he said, have ruled Greece, taking personal aim at the prime minister.

“This small country has been ruled for four years by a prince who, when he became prime minister, like his father, thought he had become king. And in this country, ruled by the prince, who thought he had become king, everything is going perfectly,” Tsipras said sarcastically before presenting a long list of grievances, including inflation, justice and security, while also accusing the New Democracy government of making unconstitutional moves.

Center-left PASOK also took aim at Mitsotakis in response to an interview he gave to Skai TV when he referred to “only one ballot box” on May 21. 

“Staring in the face of impending defeat and the disapproval of the citizens, the prime minister changed his line today,” it said in a statement.

“Mitsotakis, who showed institutional disrespect by announcing in advance the second elections in July, today spoke of the ‘only ballot box of May 21,’ attempting to save face,” PASOK added.

The center-left party also took issue with Mitsotakis’ pledge to reform the National Health System when he was the one, it claimed, that abolished the public character of the National Health System with a recent law and “consciously chose not to finance it strategically from the Recovery Fund.”