Review of government and in Ministry of Education for their stance on the events in Stavroupoli, was exercised by President of SYRIZA–PS, Alexis Tsipras, speaking at an event to present the book by former Minister of Education Kostas Gavroglou, titled «The Commons of Education.».
«There’s no point in condemning violence, no matter where it comes from, when you know where it comes from,» said Mr. Tsipras, adding: «Look at what happened in Thessaloniki, in Stavroupoli yesterday and today, where A public school has been taken over by neo-Nazi groups, and the Ministry of Education is washing its hands of the matter and maintaining a neutral stance., simply says that it condemns violence…To avoid losing its far-right audience, it leaves a source of tension and conflict within the school».
Generalizing his criticism of the government, he said: «The existence of strong public education systems is a necessary condition for finding these answers for the future…To overcome hatred, fear, misinformation, and fundamentalism…Those who are currently waging war on public education are not only erecting barriers to knowledge and education for tens of thousands of young people. They are also erecting a wall against the very progress of this country.».
In closing, he emphasized: «Investing in public education is not merely an ideological stance, but a moral obligation.". And as far as we’re concerned, we’ll be here to continue on the path we’ve set out on. With a plan, a vision, and respect for the world of education—and for every young person in this country.».
Mr. Tsipras, looking back on the period of the memoranda as a whole, noted that The troika’s objectives were neither politically nor ideologically neutral, nor were they free from pressure from domestic actors. «We governed under the constant threat of default. Today, the New Democracy government governs, carefree, but using the very same recipes for default.», ,« the former prime minister argued, and went on to criticize the government: “As far as the ideological orientation of its reforms is concerned, it is implementing everything the creditors put on the table and pressured us to adopt under the threat of default.”. In the energy sector, they are selling off everything that we fought so hard to keep under public control: the Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Hellenic Electricity Transmission System Operator (ADMIE), the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE), the Hellenic Gas Infrastructure Company (DEPA), and the networks.. In healthcare, they are reinstating the privatization of healthcare services even in the midst of pandemic. In the areas of labor and social security, they are going a step further than the IMF’s requirements. In education, they have also gone too far. With the top choice being the the downsizing and devaluation of public universities »and the minimum admission threshold, which this year left more than 40,000 students out of college.".
Specifically regarding fiscal policy, he noted that «there is, however, always fiscal room for tax breaks on corporate profits, dividends, and large estates.».
He briefly touched on the arms market: «There are billions to be had for defense procurement programs. And in light of yesterday’s announcements regarding defense procurement, I’d like to recall how we used to treat every last euro with great care and concern, making sure we didn’t go overboard or lose control. Today, that concern no longer exists… It is a sign of the indifference of those currently in power toward the future. And that is a major difference—not only ideological but also moral. They govern with the end of their own term in office as their horizon, and with the goal of making more deals and more business.».
A public school is occupied by neo-Nazi groups, and the Ministry of Education washes its hands of the matter, maintains a neutral stance, and condemns violence «no matter where it comes from.» It does not point out where the violence is coming from so as not to lose its far-right audience.# Stavroupoli
— Alexis Tsipras (@atsipras) September 29, 2021
