Europe subsidising employment, while Greece subsidises unemployment and layoffs, Tsipras says

"It is a difficult battle in extremely adverse conditions," main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said late on Wednesday in an interview with Ant1 TV, referring to the outbreak of the pandemic, and added that the parties must not bicker but help to bring about the best possible result. However, he noted, "while all Europe is subsidising the labour market, Greece is subsidising unemployment and layoffs."

"Nowhere else in Europe do they subsidise unemployment as (Labour Minister Yiannis) Vroutsis is doing here. They subsidise employment. They may not give 100 pct as we suggested, but they give 90 pct, 80 pct or 70 pct," he said, adding that there is also a question of the quality of measures.

Tsipras also referred to the national health system, saying that it had shrunk during the years of memorandum. "Therefore," he said, "Greece starts from a disadvantageous position, which cannot easily be reversed in a month."

"We owe our gratitude to the people who are on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus," he underlined.