Reaction to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ surprise televised announcement of a 1.4 –billion-euro “social dividend” doled out to roughly 3.4 million beneficiaries was immediate and scathing on Monday evening.
Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party said the “gift” to pensioners with a return of a part of their social security contributions has already been ordered by the courts.
“The prime minister of taxes, Alexist Tsipras, announced that he’ll return 700 million euros from the 14.5 billion euros that he’s lifted from Greeks, bringing the middle class to its knees and making the poor poorer,” was the ND response.
“Mr. Tsipras hopelessly thinks that by handing out gifts from the spoils of harsh taxation that he’ll be able to fool the Greek people,” was the reaction by social PASOK party leader Fofi Gennimata.
Statements by other opposition leaders were along the same lines.
