Tsipras slams plan for sale of Hellenic Sugar Industry for 40 m

Page last updated at 06:59 GMT, Thursday, July 5, 2012 - 11:59 EST

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AMNA--Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday warned the government not to go ahead with plans to "sell off public wealth for a song and especially the sale of those productive units that could be a lever for the productive reconstitution of the country."

Tsipras stressed that this would be tantamount to "the second biggest crime after the signature of the Memorandum [for bailout loans to Greece]" in statements after meeting with a delegation of workers from the Hellenic Sugar Industry (EBZ).

SYRIZA's leader strongly criticized a plan to sell off EBZ for what he called a 'paltry' 40 million euro, noting that the two factories owned by EBZ's subsidiary in Serbia were alone currently costed at more than 150 million euro. He also pointed out that EBZ was the largest agricultural-based industry in northern Greece and was currently making a profit that could be made even larger with the right plan and strategy. He also noted that the sale would not only affect EBZ's workforce but also thousands of farmers now growing sugar beet that supplied EBZ.

Tsipras promised that his party will stand at the side of workers in the coming period and stressed that privatization processes in Greece, but also Europe and the rest of the world, had acted as sources of corruption and major scandals "especially in conditions with fast-track and pressure".

"We will not allow the same to happen here, especially at a time when the Greek economy is suffocating and suffering. We will strive for the Greek economy to have hope and prospects, so that they do not extinguish hope entirely through their choices," he said.

Comments

Well Said!

July 6, 2012 by Midfield Maestro (United Kingdom ), 45 weeks 3 days ago

I'm no fan of Syriza or Tsipras but he's spot on here! What ND and PASOK have done, and continue to do, is a disgrace! The definition of madness is to continue to do the same thing over and over again but to expect a different outcome each time. Does that make the Greek people mad for voting for these criminals? The country is literally being sold off now for a cut price. Absolutely criminal!

Re: Well Said!

July 7, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 45 weeks 2 days ago

@Midfield Maestro:
Tsipras says "no" to everything, whether it makes sense or not. His party, the opposition party, has found nirvana by being in a position to object to anything and everything the current coalition government puts forward. It has yet to put forth an actual and realistically implementable plan. On anything.

Re: Well Said!

July 8, 2012 by Midfield Maestro (United Kingdom ), 45 weeks 1 day ago

@Jim Adams:
The point is Mr Adams, that if a country goes bankrupt the banks take your assets and sell them off at a cut price. Whatever is then not "covered" is written off and certain loan stipulations are placed on you for an x amount of years. Greece didn't take up that option. Greece opted to hold on to her assets and if necessary to sell some off at a FAIR PRICE, whilst imposing austerity to try and fill the financial void. Why, therefore, is your party with their mates ND selling assets as if the country opted for bankruptcy?
"It has yet to put forth an actual and realistically implementable plan. On anything"

I agree 100%, now perhaps you can tell us what realistically implementable plan your beloved PASOK and ND have put into place?

Re: Well Said!

July 9, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 45 weeks 16 hours ago

@Midfield Maestro:
Just stick with what it is you do best. Watch TV. The term "fair price" does not stand for "a price that I like". It stands for "what the market is willing to pay" In terms of bankruptcy - Greece is bankrupt whether you call it by that name or not. I'm not going to address the rest. Sometimes politics is about getting the most optimal result, not the one you would like necessarily. But I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, right? Politics is not your forte. Stick to watching TV. Don't forget the popcorn.

Re: Well Said!

July 13, 2012 by Midfield Maestro (United Kingdom ), 44 weeks 3 days ago

@Jim Adams:
It's to do with survival! Nothing else matters to an individual worker. If he/she is to work all hours of the day and still cannot make a small profit from which to survive then it is not economically viable to take the job. Clearly you're intellectually challenged so I'll make this as simple as possible for you little Jim. If you clean mummy and daddy's garden and they give you $2 allowance but it costs $3 to buy a sandwich for lunch at school, guess what? You won't be able to buy lunch!

If Greece is bankrupt then your sell-out of a party should not have accepted the bail out should they? Going bankrupt would have meant that Greece defaulted on its debt. Little Jim there's no point in hiding your anti-Greek sentiments. They are there for all to see. So be honest, where are you from? Come on don't hide away. If we're going to have a debate on these issues at least extend us the courtesy of being honest about your biased position