EUROZONE-GREECE/MORNING-MARKET REAX Greeks voice support for PM Tsipras over austerity

Record ID: 496329

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/MORNING-MARKET REAX Greeks voice support for PM Tsipras over austerity
  • Date: 9th February 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (FEBRUARY 9, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SYNTAGMA SQUARE / PARLIAMENT IN THE BACKGROUND PARLIAMENT AND FOUNTAIN ON SQUARE GREEK FLAG ON PARLIAMENT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, MANOLIS MOUSOURIS, SAYING: "We want people abroad to become aware of our problems and I believe that this man (Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras) did so in the most pure and honest way possible. He made us all proud, those who voted for him and, I believe, even those who didn't." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, SPIROS, SAYING: "It (what Tsipras said) was expected, it was what more or less what he had said before the elections. Now we have to wait and see what happens at the Euro group. I believe that he will be able to make some of what he said yesterday happen, but it will be hard. In any case, we have to support him, we don't have a choice." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, ELISABETH, SAYING: "I believe in him, I do, I just hope we don't go bankrupt." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, LAMBROS, SAYING: "Perhaps the Europeans are expecting more from Greece, but Greece is also expecting more from Europe, because it is time for Europe to put some water in its wine and work better with Greece, because Greece has offered so much to Europe." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, KYRIAKOS, SAYING: "They've always had us running after them, it's time to show for us to show some backbone. They will do what they have to do, and so will we." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT NEWSPAPER HEADLINES AT NEWS KIOSK NEWSPAPERS HANGING 'ELEFTHEROS TIPOS' NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING (Greek): "ON A COLLISION COURSE, LOOKING FOR BRIDGES" VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS HANGING 'THE EDITOR' NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING (Greek): "OUR DIGNITY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE" NEWSPAPERS ;ETHNOS' NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING (Greek): "HARD LINES DURING BARGAIN WITH LENDERS " INTERIOR OF ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE VARIOUS OF SHARE PRICE TICKER VARIOUS OF SHARE PRICE GRAPHS VARIOUS OF SCREENS WITH SHARE PRICES AND GRAPHS
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3BXW6JGXUC37H5TBMBYAPKI4X
  • Story Text: Greek people on Monday (February 9) expressed their support for leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras after he laid out plans to dismantle Greece's "cruel" austerity programme.
    Tsipras ruled out any extension of its international bailout and set himself on a collision course with his European partners, in his first major speech to parliament since storming to power last month.
    Greeks in the streets of Athens voiced their support for the prime minister.
    "We want people abroad to become aware of our problems and I believe that this man (Tsipras) did so in the most pure and honest way possible. He made us all proud, those who voted for him and, I believe, even those who didn't," said Athens resident Manolis Mousouris.
    EU partners have warned Greece to stick to commitments in the 240 billion euro bailout.
    But Tsipras said he intended to fully respect his election campaign pledges to heal the "wounds" of the austerity.
    Athens resident Spiros said that it would be hard, but he believed that Tsipras would deliver at least some of his promises to voters.
    "It was what more or less what he had said before the elections. Now we have to wait and see what happens at the Eurogroup. I believe that he will be able to make some of what he said yesterday happen, but it will be hard. I any case, we have to support him, we don't have a choice," he said.
    "I believe in him, I do, I just hope we don't go bankrupt," said pensioner Elisabeth.
    Pensioner Lambros said Greece's European partners needed to soften their stance and work better together.
    "Perhaps the Europeans are expecting more from Greece, but Greece is also expecting more from Europe, because it is time for Europe to put some water in its wine and work better with Greece, because Greece has offered so much to Europe."
    The Athens stock exchange opened five percent down on Monday, with bank shares down 9.5 percent.
    Greek bond yields rose by up to 120 basis points.
    There was little sign that EU capitals were willing to accept a reversal of Greek austerity measures or to extend loans that would buy time to negotiate with Athens.
    Instead the country is under increasing pressure to stick to the commitments attached to the EU/IMF loans.
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