MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Kalomiris, the outcome of the July 5 bailout referendum proves that Greeks want policy changes.
In the July 5 referendum, Greek voters rejected the bailout plan proposed by the country's major lenders, sparking concerns that Athens could soon exit the eurozone.
"An exit from the eurozone opens up new possibilities of cooperation with countries all over the world, a diversified foreign and economic policy, opens the opportunity for our country to use the wealth and manufacturing capability we have, which lost its power mostly due to European Union policy – since we entered the EU, and especially since we entered the eurozone," Kalomiris said.
On July 9, the Greek government presented its own proposals on how to deal with its debt; the leaders of the euro area reached an agreement on a new bailout package for the country on Monday. Greek Prime Minister Tsipras said on Monday that the idea of Grexit is now off the table.
A 24-hour strike by Greek civil servants, scheduled to take place in Athens Wednesday, is a message to the Greek government and its international lenders that the new bailout deal is "a pillage of the rights and income" of working Greeks, Gregori Kalomiris said.
"With this strike we will send a message to the government and to any other institution, such as the creditors, the European Union …. that the [bailout] measures cannot and will not be taken, because they undermine the position of the working people, they mean a pillage of the rights and income of the working people. These people cannot keep on sacrificing all they have for the sake of these losses."
He added that his trade union wants the Greek government to withdraw its signature from the bailout agreement with the Eurozone to live up to the nation’s mandate given to it in the January 25 elections and the July 5 referendum.
"The mandate says ‘No’ to austerity, ‘No’ to the blackmail of the creditors," Kalomiris said.
