Tusk: The Greek standoff created atmosphere as in 1968
15:22
In an interview with the Financial Times and six European newspapers, Donald Tusk, the former Polish Prime Minister and head of the European Council, said he fears the standoff has given new energy to radical political forces in Europe that has made 2015 resemble 1968. "I am really afraid of the ideological or political contagion and not the financial contagion of this Greek crisis,” said Tusk. "For me, the atmosphere is a little similar to the time after 1968 in Europe."
“It was always the same game before the biggest tragedies in our European history, this tactical alliance between radicals from all sides. Today, for sure, we can observe the same political phenomenon," Tusk added.
Referring to the bailout deal and criticism it sparked, Tusk assured that he was “100 percent sure that Germany is not the winner in the context of political power”, particularly since “Germany has to sacrifice much more than other countries” in terms of financial aid it will soon have to send to Athens.
“I can’t accept the argument that someone was punished, especially Tsipras or Greece. The whole process was about assistance to Greece,” Tusk said.
“When we discuss facts, deeds and numbers, this is the only number on the table: €80bn for Greek assistance and quite soft conditions. Not only [soft] financial conditions, but political conditions — in fact, without collateral. Come on. What reason is there to claim it’s something humiliating for Greece, or this is punishment for Tsipras?" Tusk asked.
