Greece

Mission Mitsotakis: Greece, Tsipras save

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the new party Chairman of the conservative party Nea Dimokratia (ND). His goal: The country, the left Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to “rid”. How and why, he explained to DW.

If the Greeks in the morning would choose their government, then the pro would win-European conservative party Nea Dimokratia (ND). According to the survey, since January President of the ND brought-Chairman Kyriakos Mitsotakis his party in six months, forward. Many think that he would be for the office of the Prime Minister is more appropriate than the head of the left party Syriza Alexis Tsipras.

The Harvard and Stanford studied the 48-year-old Pro-European and neo-liberal Mitsotakis, who, in addition to government practice, experience in investment banking, is a Scion of a Greek political dynasty. His father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister, his older sister, Dora Bakoyannis was Foreign and culture Minister and mayor of Athens.

ND party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis after his election in January

To the family of Mitsotakis, also of the charismatic statesman Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), who is considered the founding father of modern Greece belonged to. In a country where the abuses are passed into the policy as a kind of genetic disease at younger politicians from old political family dynasties, is on stage Mitsotakis as a renewable and Reformer.

Political reason against populism set

His opponents, within his own party, accuse him of political suicide. You don’t accuse him, he was in the situation, the people with credible, convincing arguments of the correctness of his policy.

In a direct duel in Parliament he propose to loud sounds, without having the Charisma to drive Tsipras in the Close. Nevertheless, Mitsotakis has to save the country through elections from the – as he says – “disastrous policy” of the incumbent Prime Minister.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the Parliament, some party friends, there’s more

“I can understand the Concerns abroad because of repeated Elections in Greece, but the government of Tsipras and want to perform basically no reforms and privatisations,” says Mitsotakis in an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle: “a new government of ND, the message would go to Europe, you can counter the populism of just now – after the Brexit – not with more populism, but with arguments of pure political common sense.

Mitsokakis addiction to decision-makers near the

The Chairman of the strongest opposition party in Greece, and major advocate of privatisation, paying particular attention to its Image. He tried to, abroad, the profile of a trusted name in Greek politician. Mitsotakis has established close contacts with the European people’s party and wants to be close to key European decision-makers, to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

He was to visit to the French Minister of economy Emmanuel Macron. In London, he met with major investors, in Frankfurt, he discussed the situation of the Greek banking sector with ECB chief Mario Draghi. In may, he met the Russian President Putin, recently, he was received in Israel from the President and the head of government. Tsipras’ Challenger uses every opportunity to be a government program as a sustainable Alternative to the left of the Prime Minister.

Like encounters with rulers – Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with the Russian President Vladimir Putin

Mitsotakis has voted in favour of the third package of support in Parliament and was instrumental in the pro-European course of Greece, but is a staunch opponent of what he criticized the “policy Mix”, with which the government attempts to work with the state to reduce debt. He argues, for example, for cuts to spending in the state sector and against increased taxes.

“Greece now has the highest tax rates among European countries. By continuous control, no increased revenues are expected to increase. The opposite is the case,” Mitsotakis noted that “Foreign investors stay away, there is a black market arises in the labour market, the ordinary people are not able to meet their tax obligations.”

“Crisis in Greece is a self-made”

Skeptical Mitsotakis expresses itself also with the donors agreed savings targets. As well as the International economic Fund, and many foreign Economists, he also doubts the feasibility of the growth target for the gross domestic product, Greece has to reach in 2018. Mitsotakis called for a reduction. “Together with offensive structural measures, we characterized the vicious circle of the Greek economy might break,” he says.

Mitsotakis is for reforms, but not because the Germans want to…

Nevertheless, he supported the reforms of the aid packages. “We have voted for in the program, provided reforms, not because the German or Brussels wanted it, but because they are right for the country. In addition, the crisis in Greece is home-made and not only by the aid packages were created. Which Greek politician dares to tell the truth?”, ask Mitsotakis.

Message to “friends in Germany”

The refugee crisis and the Brexit have replaced in the past few months, the issue of “Greece in crisis” public debate, although it is expected this autumn an economic deterioration of the situation. The new negotiations with donors are complicated. It is expected more cuts, cuts in pensions and salaries, more youth unemployment and social unrest.

Mitsotakis is ringing bells, so the alarm: “Our friends in Germany to know that the time until the end of 2018 is a waste of time. Economically, we will fall to the level of 2014. That is why Greece needs a new and reliable government with a friendly investment policy.” This is good also for the partners in the EU-27 member countries, he stresses.