Greece FinMin: Privatization Is 'Top Priority'

Greek Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras speaks during the policy statement talks of the new government in the Greek Parliament, Athens, Greece. Photo by EPA/BGNES

New Greek Minister of Finance Yannis Stournaras has pledged a staunch program of private investments and privatization to rid his country of the deep financial crisis.

"Our privatization program is aiming at attracting significant international capital to be invested chiefly in development and infrastructure," said Stournaras in Parliament during debates on the political platform of Greece's new tripartite coalition cabinet.

The FinMin has stated that the government headed by PM Antonis Samaras plans to prioritize the privatization fo 28 companies, including state utility firms, a number of airports and sea ports, as well as Greece's state railways.

The Public Power Corporation of Greece is also up for privatization, albeit at a later stage, said Stournaras.

Opposition radical left coalition SYRIZA's leader Alexis Tsipras accused the cabinet of attempting to sell Greece out.

"The PM's political platform is nothing but a "For Sale" sign put on the entire Greece," quipped Tsipras in Parliament.

According to the lefist leader, SYRIZA, which opposes the massive bailout plan for Greece, will soon come to power, as the coalition cabinet's policies are "doomed to failure."

Evangelos Venizelos, leder of traditional leftists PASOK, who are part of the coalition, has in turn accused Tsipras of "populism."

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