Addressing the first cabinet meeting immediately after the swearing in of the government's members on Thursday afternoon, newly elected Prime Minister Antonis Samaras underlined that the government has no period of grace and then announced a 30% salary cut for all ministers.
"A government is being formed with full duties and as the constitution anticipates, the coalition government is a great step that necessitates great consensuses. We achieved them to save the country and for the country to come out of the crisis," Samaras said.
"Our target is to take the country out of the crisis and for the sacrifices of the people not to be in vain. We shall achieve it by telling the people the truth," the prime minister said, adding that in a short period of time "we achieved identity of views. There is consensus on many points. This was also the mandate of the Greek people to which the parties that are cooperating responded."
He announced two measures: firstly the salaries of the cabinet members will be decreased by 30 percent. Secondly the use of state cars by the government and the members of public administration will be reduced to the minimum number necessary.
Samaras said he will rule with truth and modesty and added that the ministers cannot be at the television channels every day.amna
Addressing his ministers, he said: "I know that all of you have good intentions. But I am not interested in good intentions. I am interested in work and the result. The most crucial word is the word effectiveness. We shall make in every ministry a target-timetable for us to know what took place and did not take place at its time, what was late and why. This government has no period of grace. Despite its interparty composition it is unified." (AMNA)