Greek incumbent PM promises stability, tax relief if reelected

Athens, Jan 8 (IANS/EFE) With the Greek election campaign in full swing, and the polls against him, incumbent Prime Minister Andonis Samaras predicts a victory for conservatives based on his promises to restore political stability and relieve the burden on taxpayers.

His appearances at election rallies in central and northern Greece have so far been focused mainly on warnings of an apocalyptic outcome in case of victory for his main rival, the leftist Syriza party, which currently leads in the polls.

Samaras's argument is that if Syriza wins, Greece will break away from the euro zone. The leftist party led by Alexis Tsipras, has dubbed this a "campaign of fear" charging that it has had adverse psychological effects on stock exchange and debt markets.

On Wednesday, the Greek 10-year bond in the secondary market exceeded the 10 percent barrier, standing at 10.88 percent.

The tone of the campaign is rising in pitch as the Jan 25 election date approaches, so Samaras took advantage of this week's terrorist atrocity in Paris to berate Syriza for its pro-immigration policies.

"Today there were 12 dead in Paris, and in Greece there are some who invite immigrants to enter this country," the prime minister said at a rally of his New Democracy party, in the town of Jalkida, about 70 km north of Athens.

He went on to lambast Syriza for promising to close down the high security prisons in which the government has promised to confine the most dangerous criminals.

"Why? So that they can escape more easily? So they can defend them, as did many senior Syriza members, while they have not congratulated the police for arresting Xiros, a couple of days ago?" he said.

The prime minister referred to the recapture of terrorist Christodulos Xiros, who escaped during a prison leave, the eighth granted to him, despite having been sentenced in 2003 to six life terms plus 25 years for 33 acts of terrorism, including six murders.

The Xiros affair sparked harsh criticism of Greece's prison system, which led the government to open a maximum security facility for dangerous offenders.

Samaras's speeches, however, were not limited to attacking his opponent. Since Tsipras has already presented some economic promises, the Greek prime minister plans to do the same starting next weekend.

In his speech Wednesday, he announced that he would present Saturday a comprehensive economic programme, and mentioned some of its highlights, many of which are aimed at short and medium term solutions.

Among the reforms Sanaras is pledging, is a reduction in the maximum income tax rate applicable to individuals from the current 42 percent to 33 percent and cutting the tax on corporate profits from 25 to 15 percent.

In addition, Samaras promised a reduction of value added tax and the newly created property tax, which has caused a storm of controversy not only within the opposition but also among government ranks.

The prime minister has vowed to ease the situation of small and medium businesses that have accumulated debts due to the crisis. A few months ago, the Greek parliament adopted a law allowing debtors to repay what they owe in as many as 100 installments.

"From now on we will enter a period of real change, with growth, investment, exports, privatization and exploitation of public property," the prime minister said.

Samaras promised that once his government won the elections, he would end negotiations with the troika of creditors and obtain new repayment terms for the outstanding debt Greece owes its European partners for having staved off economic meltdown two years ago.

--IANS/EFE

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