«Politically and legally unacceptable», called the president of SYRIZA-PS, Alexis Tsipras, «the government's choice to deprive the State of the right to determine the majority of the members of the Board of EL.ΠE, even though this was enshrined in the 2003 shareholders» agreement and the abolition of the participation of employee representatives'.
Speaking at a teleconference with representatives of the unions of the Group of EL.PE from all over Greece, Mr.Tsipras stressed the crucial role of EL.PE in the economy and development of the country and its geopolitical strategy.
«The only obligation of the government is and remains the guarantee of the majority of the State in the Board of Directors of the EL.PE, as well as the representation of the employees, as enshrined in the shareholders» agreement of 2003", said Mr. Tsipras and announced the submission of an amendment prepared by SYRIZA-PS, which will be discussed in a bill of the Ministry of Finance next Thursday, which will ensure for the State the majority of the members of the Board of Directors, as well as the representation of employees on the Board.
In his introduction, he recalled that during the SYRIZA government, when the State exercised its right to administer the ELPE, «we had achieved high profitability, large investments, recruitment of staff and reduction of borrowing». Continuing, he argued: «The concession of public rights attempted by the government and personally Mr. Mitsotakis, as provided for by the 2003 Shareholders' Agreement, also reduces the value of the State's shareholding in ELPE, without this loss having even been valued, and no compensation has been provided for the State for this loss. The government is implementing a strategy of serving interests that is in conflict with the interests of the State and the workers.».
At the same time, he stressed that «from the first day we asked the government not to introduce the issue in the General Assembly and to proceed immediately to a legislative regulation that shields the majority of public representatives and the participation of employees in the Board of EL.PE».
On the occasion of the draft law on labour, Tsipras stressed that «the government is consistent in the implementation of its commitments to the SEV with the abolition of the 8-hour working day, collective agreements, the reduction of the minimum wage and unpaid overtime, i.e. a labour hell, which creates an opportunity for quick profitability for a few private individuals, but offers no potential for inclusive growth and no benefit for the country and the large social majority».
Finally, he assessed that the postponement of the General Assembly of EL.PE, confirms the demands of the employees and the valid criticism that SYRIZA PS has made against the politically and legally unacceptable decision of the government to cede rights and property of the State to the private shareholder, as well as the sloppiness of the choices of the Group's management and the government.
