Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-01-10

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras: We will free the farmers from the shackles of an unjust taxation

[02] There is a possibility KKE to be third in elections, says party leader Koutsoumbas

[01] Tsipras: We will free the farmers from the shackles of an unjust taxation

Tsipras underlined that the time has come to support the country in order to exit the crisis noting that the country can't leave from the crisis without supporting the primary production and the labourers. He pledged that the 'government of restoration and reconstruction' that he will create will support the farmers and the primary production by decreasing the production cost. He also said that he will cancel ENFIA (Single Real Estate Ownership Taxation) because it taxes the agricultural production means and that he will set the tax free limit at 12,000 euros and will settle the bad loans with aim, as he said, the farmers not to face the risk of losing their properties.

He said that Mr. Samaras' (Antonis, prime minister and New Democracy leader) threats do not find their target because the people are aware that if the memorandum policy continues in Greece then the country will become a colony without production and farmers in the future.

"Rifts are needed with the past and with all those that have led us to 2009 and we are here to show the difficult road of reconstruction" he said, stating that he is certain that the people have taken their decisions and that "from January 26 we will be a country with people with heads high and dignity in Europe".

Tsipras clarified that the subsidies will not be cut from the farmers adding that the European Funds will be used to support the primary production.

Asked on the Greek debt's haircut he said that "the haircut is necessary in order a sustainable development and prospect to exist for all Europe. It is an unavoidable development" he said adding that "the crucial issue is whether it will be applied through new measures of unsuccessful austerity or via growth prospect measures, that's what is at stake on January 25 and regarding the memorandum, SYRIZA will not be the one that will cancel it but the people the night of the elections".

[02] There is a possibility KKE to be third in elections, says party leader Koutsoumbas

Asked on whether the third place is a realistic target he said "it is not our custom to set numerical targets or position target, however given the up to date opinion polls it seems possible KKE to take the third place in the general elections'".

At a query what will KKE do in case it is the key of a new recourse or not to elections he said that history in Greece and in Europe has proved that whenever a communist party, in conditions of capitalism, has participated in a government it had negative consequences to the working classes' movement orientation and led to the dissolution or brought changes to the Communist movement.

Koutsoumbas referring to the possibility of a Grexit he opined that "the possibility exists as well as the possibility of a deep Grentry" he said adding that he gives more possibilities to the second (Grentry).

Asked if a country can leave from the eurozone but to remain in the EU he underlined that alternative proposals of a multi-speed EU have been already tabled, however, the antipopular policies continue to be applied in all EU country members.

Finally, KKE leader noted that the people should not be trapped in the monopolies competition adding that "only the way of reversal of the socialisation of the monopolies can lead to the people's prosperity and the people will choose the country to disengage from Europe as a selection within the context of radical changes.

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