In a head-on confrontation Kyriakou Mitsotakis And Alexis Tsipras debates in Parliament on the bill of the Ministry of National Defense “Care for the personnel of the Armed Forces, rationalization of the legislation on the Armed Forces, organization of the National Guard and other provisions.”

Mitsotakis: special salary for the armed forces in 2024

Taking the floor first, the Prime Minister announced a special salary scale adjusted for the Armed Forces from January 1, 2024. The Prime Minister began his speech by mentioning the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Greece’s assistance to a neighboring country, and the message he had himself and MD Katerina Sakellaropoulou with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. “Turkey is facing an unprecedented disaster. The first C-130 has already arrived in Turkey, but there is no doubt that more mobilization will be required from the international community,” the prime minister said, adding that “every such a major natural disaster reminds us that, as a nation, we must invest in civil defense structures. “.

Then – and referring to the death of two Greek Air Force pilots in the fatal Phantom, stating that the bill is being discussed in the shadow of this unfortunate accident – ​​he emphasized: “I am here to talk about two legislative initiatives that should unite political forces.” “One regulates the important issues of the executive branch of the ID, the second comes to the defense of democratic normality from its enemies. First of all, we are talking about the settlement of acute issues related to the career and salary of the leaders of the Armed Forces,” he added.

Developing the provisions of the draft law of the Ministry of Defense, the Prime Minister said that in relation to the Armed Forces, “compensation and specialized personnel for the disposal of explosive devices are added to the already provided financial assistance, but also cancels the old deduction in favor of the military.” “Merchant Marine academy graduates will be automatically transferred to the Navy to serve their terms there, and the National Guard is also modernizing the training of its members by opening its ranks to women. We will soon introduce additional legislation for EPOD,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

“These measures reflect the attitude of the state government towards the military, from their health to their financial well-being,” the prime minister continued and added: “I am talking about concrete and tangible actions aimed at protecting their salaries, which are still at a low level according to compared to the mission they are performing. This government introduced an exemption from taxation of flight and other allowances. In the midst of multiple crises, we are doing what we can and what the resilience of our country allows. We are striving for the personnel of the Armed Forces. Yes, from 01.01.24 the salary scale for the Armed Forces will also be adjusted.”

“The people voted for the representatives, not for the strikers”

Then, addressing the official leader of the opposition, the Prime Minister said: “Mr. Tsipras, you voted against the budget of the Armed Forces, because defense is not an end in itself, is it? You will not vote today either, because you have made an unprecedented decision not to vote in which hundreds of thousands of citizens are interested. This is a choice that not only offends Democracy and the Constitution, but also those who voted for you to represent them. The people voted for the representatives, not for the strikers,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized and added: “Your decision also shows a premature acknowledgment of defeat due to the elections. I hope this is a desperate escape and not a prelude to unparliamentary behavior. You prefer slogans to arguments. Ultimately, you are feeding the most extreme anti-system elements, this is a pernicious choice that the country has paid for. I warned that SYRIZA would not hesitate to throw the country into the mud, you remain incorrigible.”

Continuing his criticism of Alexis Tsipras as well as SYRIZA, Kyriakos Mitsotakis asked himself: “Where is Mr. Spirtzis who speaks good or evil” to complete the appeal to the side of the official opposition: “I will invite you to return to your role and democratic normality, instead of to impose everything on everyone. Let me remind you that you took everything from everyone”, and personally addressing Mr. Tsipras, he said: “Choose different music at the beginning of your gatherings than the EAM anthem”.

Referring to the then legislative initiative on the participation of parties in the next elections, he said: “This particular amendment, in various versions, applies to other European states”, and explained that “our Constitution provides for continuous democratic functioning. This regulation is trying to reinforce this by not allowing gangs to masquerade as political actors.

As the prime minister explained, “the government presented its views to the parties in a timely manner within 3 months in order to ensure the highest possible cross-party consensus. We are open to last-minute amendments, this provision must be voted on by all 300 members of the Greek Parliament, if possible.”

“The dilemma before the elections is whether we go forward together or come back separately?”

“The government will insist on its amendment and is ready for partial changes,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis continued, referring to the elections. “The government is coming to the end of its constitutional term,” he noted and stressed that “citizens will judge and compare the four-year term of the ND and yours. We have faced and overcome many international challenges. We weren’t cowardly and I wasn’t tempted to take advantage of the public’s trust,” he said, noting that he didn’t when the polls gave the ruling party a big lead.

“I did not do this because I insist on the need for governments to complete the constitutional cycle. I am institutionally consistent in what I said that governments should exhaust their four-year cycle,” he continued. “We are trying to bring our country to calmer waters,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized and added: “I am sure that every conscious citizen will recognize these efforts made in the summer of 2019. We can look citizens in the eye and tell them that what we promised you, we have done.”

The Prime Minister continued: “This succession gives us the opportunity to speak with greater confidence about our plan for the next four years. For a Greece with higher wages and a better everyday life for everyone.” “If we started with the slogan “We remain Europe”, today we become Europe, and tomorrow we claim to be the main heroes in Europe,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized and added: “Citizens will soon judge. Citizens will judge. We have a vision for Greece in 2030, but I haven’t heard anything from you.”

“Mr Tsipras, the real question of elections is not democracy or new democracy. And be careful when you talk about our faction. We have a democracy and we defend it. The dilemma is different: move forward together or return separately? Do we want a North North government or a SYRIZA government? Do we want Prime Minister Mitsotakis with the ND government or Prime Minister Tsipras with the SYRIZA government?” the prime minister stressed. Concluding his speech and addressing Alexis Tsipras, he said: “Reconsider your attitude and return to the seats of Parliament. Here we will have the opportunity to meet face to face in the eyes of the citizens.”

Tsipras: You are putting the Armed Forces in the arena of petty political exploitation

Criticizing Kyriakos Mitsotakis for placing the Armed Forces and national issues in the “arena of micropolitical exploitation”, for representing the only patriot and defender of national defense, and for pointing the finger at his political opponents, firing them for lack of patriotism, performed by Alexis Tsipras, speaking in Parliament as part of the debate on the draft law on the Ministry of Defense. “These were the arguments of the post-racial right. Will you walk with them?” he commented, addressing the Prime Minister.

Starting his speech by expressing support and solidarity with the Turkish and Syrian peoples in connection with the tragedy they are experiencing after the devastating earthquake, noting that “our homeland and our people will stand by our neighbors who are being tested”, the President of SYRIZA PS asked Mr. Mitsotakis, if he considers himself an advocate for the ED, for commenting “did you have military chiefs, national security adviser, arms program managers with that kind of protection?”.

Mr. Tsipras asked Mr. Mitsotakis to “leave the hypocrisy”. He accused him of implying that his political opponents were concessionaires when, in the Prespa Agreement, “which was beneficial to the country”, “you, hand in hand with those who, as you now say, want to be excluded from the parliamentary process, called us national concessionaires, and then you turned 180 degrees. He emphasized that the “last straw” is the inclusion of national security and E.D. in an election contest.

Mr Tsipras commented that the prime minister is “always whining” about the $15 billion in equipment costs we’ll get “in the future” “like you’re taking it out of your pocket, like it’s not government money.” the Greek people”, while he accused of calling SYRIZA a failure because he criticized her for “you did not make sure that not a single screw entered the Greek military industry” and because the government “did not give not a single euro to take care of the spiritual potential of the army.”

Text updated…