Tension has expectedly risen in the Greek Parliament when the representatives of opposition political parties addressed the new development law with harsh criticism.
Main opposition party New Democracy parliamentary spokesman Nikos Dendias claimed that the new law does not constitute a development tool as it fails to include a development proposal.
Meanwhile, an amendment on the refugee issue was tabled on Tuesday by Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas.
New Democracy spokeswoman Anna Asimakopoulou and other party spokesmen asked for the withdrawal of the amendment on the grounds that the rules of the parliamentary procedure are not followed. However, such practices have always been common, even when New Democracy was in power.
On the other hand, the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras argues that the new development law will be a tool to bring Greece back to growth even on the second semester of 2016.
Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis admitted that although the first bailout program evaluation was successful, there are still thorns ahead that the government will face in September. Mr. Stathakis was referring to the changes in labor laws that creditors demand as prerequisites for the second bailout program semi-review due in September.
“We need a fair development law in order to pull the country out of the crisis and distribute the benefits equally to all social groups” the economy minister stressed.
The minister accused previous governments for implementing development laws that froze 6.000 investment projects that would bring 6.5 billion euros to the economy. He also promised that the government will accelerate the process of evaluating investment projects.
Mr. Stathakis said that the government’s development program will be based on a skilled and educated workforce and the production of high value-added products and services.
Meanwhile, a rally labeled “Resign” has been scheduled to take place on Wednesday outside the Parliament, orchestrated by the opposition.