New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras on Thursday presented his party's economic policy by pledging to support low-income households and small businesses that have been hit hardest by the debt crisis and accelerate structural reforms, if ND wins the polls on June 17.
The key goal of the economic agenda outlined in 18 proposals is to avoid Greece's disorderly default and safeguard its future within the eurozone, Samaras stressed when addressing a gathering at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) premises. "ND's priorities are recovery, relief, renegotiation of the current economic program, justice and security," he said, adding that after two years of harsh austerity that fuelled recession, emphasis will be put on growth to create jobs instead of additional salary cuts and tax burdens.
Waves of cutbacks on wages and pensions, tax hikes and cost-cutting measures in the public sector, implemented since 2010 in the context of bailout agreements with EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) lenders, have fueled recession, businesses closures, unemployment and poverty rates. Greek conservatives suggest a review of certain tough austerity measures of the bailout deals with creditors to ease the pressure on the average household and business, without putting at risk the release of further vital multi-billion-euro loans to Greece to overcome the crisis. "Unilateral breach of contracts will lead to catastrophe," said Samaras, referring to anti-bailout parties, such as Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), that promote a harder line in the post-election dialogue with international lenders.
Samaras also promised to restore low pensions and benefits to low-income families to 2009 levels, to provide more support to the jobless people that has amounted to over 1 million this year and ease the tax burdens on individuals and enterprises.
In addition, the conservatives pledged the acceleration of structural reforms and the stagnant privatization program and the "rebirth" of the public sector with no mass layoffs of civil servants, as suggested so far.
Arguing against further cuts on salaries in the private sector as a measure to boost growth, Samaras said that through the introduction of the right development policies, at least 150,000 new jobs could be created in Greece in 2013.
Finally, the leader of the ND party called for a swift declaration of exclusive economic zones for the exploitation of natural resources and suggested a harsh line against illegal immigration that adds to the country's financial woes.
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