Off the wire
• 1st LD Writethru: EU pledges additional 15 mln euros of humanitarian aid to Ukraine   • Winter session of PACE opens with urgent debate on Paris attacks  • U.S. deficit in 2015 to drop to lowest level since 2007: budget office  • EU not to monitor polls in volatile northeast Nigeria: official  • Boeing, SpaceX to bring down cost of flying astronauts to ISS: NASA  • Eurogroup says Greek recovery within eurozone serving its ambition  • 9 Italians injured in fighter jet crash at Spanish NATO base: media reports  • News Analysis: Italian analysts to monitor possible Greek debt renegotiations after Syriza victory  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. stocks close mildly higher on Greek elections  • Greek singer Demis Roussos dies at 69  
You are here: 　 Home

Roundup: EP leaders react to SYRIZA victory

Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

European Parliament (EP) leaders on Monday responded to the victory of the radical left SYRIZA party in Greek parliamentary elections held on Sunday.

EP President Martin Schulz gave a guarded welcome to the swearing in of Alexis Tsipras as Greek new prime minister, calling it an "historic victory for his party."

"This is a major change for Greece and has an impact on Europe," he said.

Referring to Tsipras' campaign commitment to renegotiate Greece's debt with the 'Troika' of the European Commission, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund, Schulz said the EP was open to discussion.

"Negotiations must be based on mutual respect and trust. It will also be important to stick to agreements made to stabilize the country and the European Union (EU)," he said.

Manfred Weber, chairman of the center-right EPP, the largest group in the EP, said it was disappointing to see that "the right and honest path" chosen by former prime minister Antonis Samaras was not acknowledged.

"The reform path is bearing fruit and needs to be continued," he stated.

"Europe stands ready to show solidarity with Greece if the commitments agreed upon (regarding the bailout) are fully respected. All commitments must be fulfilled," he said.

Gianni Pittella, president of the Socialists and Democrats group in the EP, said Greece had sent a clear message to the EU to end austerity and the "Troika's diktats."

Pittella welcomed the victory of left-wing parties in Greece. He added the renegotiation of Greece's debt should no longer be considered a taboo.

"The Greek people have clearly chosen to stop the austerity imposed on them by the Troika's diktats and ask the new government to bring in fair policies with more social justice," he said.

It is now time to invest in economic growth to reduce deficit and public debt. The will of the Greek people should be respected by all the EU institutions and member states alike, he said.

"The S&D Group is ready to co-operate fully with the new progressive government," he added.

Syed Kamall, the leader of the third largest group in the EP, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), said: "As a democrat, I congratulate the new government on winning the election."

"However, the new Greek government will have to face up to the reality that being part of the euro means you cannot just change economic course without the agreement of other eurozone countries," he said.

Kamall added that while the Greek people may have made their choice, he questioned whether the voters of Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and other eurozone countries would be prepared to fund Greece via fiscal transfers if the new government decides to "splash the cash."

"The room for manoeuvre in the eurozone is limited but I hope that an agreement can be found that makes both the voters of Greece, and voters of other eurozone states, feel that they are being listened to," he said. Endit