By Magda Panoutsopoulou
ATHENS
The Greek parliament adopted a humanitarian crisis bill on Wednesday.
"A draft law is being voted on that gives more to those who have greater need than any of us for someone to stand at their side. This is the first bill in five years that does not take away from citizens, does not strike at labor and social rights but offers support to the weaker social strata," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stated.
The bill considers giving housing allowances and emergency food aid for the poorest in society. It was drafted in Athens and not requested by the EU.
Despite attempts from the European Commission to halt this measure, the government received the support of the center-right New Democracy party.
Left-wing Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reacted angrily to a request by Declan Costello, a representative on the European Commission team that is monitoring Greece, not to adopt the bill and not to make any "unilateral” moves.
"They are asking us to freeze the bill so that some in Greece can continue to freeze," Tsipras said.
During the parliament debate on the humanitarian crisis bill, the Greek premier said, “People have asked us to put an end to austerity and bailout agreements and to begin the process of reclaiming the dignity of the nation.”
“If some believe that nothing changed with the elections in Greece and they dream of our country going back to the era of the memoranda, let them keep their threats for those who put up with them. No threats to this government and primarily no threats to the Greek people,” said Tsipras.
He emphasized that the government will respect the Greek people’s request to end the memorandum era and austerity measures in order to recover the Greek people’s dignity.
"The government is starting to implement the things it promised to do in its policy statements and some people still seem incapable of understanding this. We promised to be a government that will carry out its program and its promises. We promised, if necessary, even to bleed in order for the people to stop bleeding. Today we make a start,” Tsipras said in his speech.
He underlined that the government will not back down from implementing legislation necessary for the economy to breath.
