Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, identified in published reports as president of ELAS, declared in an interview with Greek news site in.gr on Monday that his governance experience has provided him with clear goals and practical methods to achieve them.
Tsipras directly linked Greece's cost of living crisis to systemic corruption, asserting that a substantial portion of high consumer prices stems from financial misconduct in the public sector.
He argued that every euro lost from the public treasury to bribery or direct procurement awards represents funds taken from public schools, state hospitals, and critical infrastructure that should support Greek families during economic crises.
Criticizing the government for lacking the political will to confront commercial oligopolies, Tsipras rejected state subsidies as a solution to rising living costs. He noted that housing subsidies fail to solve underlying problems, as landlords simply raise rents when low housing supply and high demand persist.
Tsipras served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019, leading the country through turbulent negotiations with European creditors. Political debates in Athens have increasingly focused on food inflation, utility costs, and housing affordability across the Mediterranean nation.
Inflation and Energy Market Reforms
Asked about potential interventions for a future administration, Tsipras stated that he does not promise immediate miracles such as tripling salaries or transforming daily life overnight. He clarified that he views politics not as the art of the possible, but as the art of expanding what is possible.
He outlined a specific plan for the Public Power Corporation, known as DEH, aiming to reform the state electric utility from an enterprise serving private funds into an organization that directs market competition to lower energy prices for Greek society.
DEH historically operated as Greece's state power monopoly before undergoing market liberalisation and partial privatization. Energy costs remain a major economic concern for Greek households following recent regional price shocks.
Political Criticism and Judicial Independence
Addressing attacks from political opponents, Tsipras pushed back against claims from the governing New Democracy party depicting him as an unrepentant radical who would re-close banks, attack the bourgeoisie with tin cans, or act as the Maduro of the Mediterranean. He noted that while critics on one side call him radical and others call him compromised, the truth lies in the middle.
Reflecting on his previous term in office, Tsipras explained that in 2015 he knew what he wanted to achieve but lacked exact execution strategies. He emphasized that after governing under difficult economic conditions, he now possesses both the vision and the practical knowledge required to execute policy.
Tsipras also launched a strong critique of the Greek judicial system, claiming that an entrenched regime has emasculated the judiciary through government-appointed leadership. He added that the presence of European institutions provides an essential external safeguard for rule of law.
The interview published by in.gr represents the first part of a wider conversation detailing Tsipras's political strategy and economic reform proposals.
