Tsipras: Democracy in state of emergency

Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras on Friday highlighted issues of democracy in light of the furore regarding phone tappings, speaking at his party's parliamentary group.

"The democracy that with so many sacrifices and struggles was restored to Greece is now in a state of emergency, it is being plunged into the darkness and decadence of a scandal that strikes at the core of the democratic operation of the polity," he said, explaining why he asked for the SYRIZA-PA parliamentary group to convene.

"Society is in state of emergency, it is sinking and falling into decay due to the high prices, the profiteering and the tremendous increase of inequalities," he said.

"As the major party of the Left and of the democratic front we have today the responsibility and duty to put an end to the decadence. Our duty is not to confront the abusers or reply to their insults. Our primary duty is to come to grips with the tremendous difficulties that the government's destructive policy leaves in its wake. Our duty is to offer realistic solutions to the heightened problems and to organise the resistance against the murkiness and the undermining of democracy. [Our duty is] the solidarity that keeps society standing in difficult times and, of course, our duty is to do everything we can to hasten the change that the times demand," he said.