Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras launched yesterday the three-day parliamentary debate on the government's policy statement that will culminate in a vote of confidence on Thursday (12.02). 

Tsipras underlined that the government’s top priority was to deal with the humanitarian crisis in the country by providing free food, electricity and healthcare to thousands debt-stricken households. 

He also pledged to gradually restore the minimum wage to 751 euros by 2016, increase the tax-free threshold to €12,000 and reinstate the 13th annual bonus installment for pensioners.

He emphasised the need for a simpler, more stable and fairer tax system, focusing on the fight against tax-evasion and corruption, and announced the replacement of the Single Property Tax (ENFIA) by a tax on larger property holdings in 2015.

With regard to the Greek debt, the premier stressed that the government would not seek an extension to Greece’s bailout programme, but an agreement for a bridge programme until June, in order to negotiate a new programme of cooperation and growth between Greece and its partners. "We have a realistic plan, we have a negotiating strategy and, above all, we have no other commitments beyond serving the nation's interests," the prime minister said.

He also noted that it was Greece’s historical duty to seek war reparations and the repayment of a loan it was forced to make to Germany in World War II.

"We took an oath to this Constitution and we will serve it to the end by justifying the Greek people’s visions, values, struggles and sacrifices," the Prime Minister said at the end of his speech.

See also: PM’s full speech (video in Greek)