# Alexis Tsipras

Alexios (Alexis) Tsipras (Greek: Αλέξης Τσίπρας) (born 28 July 1974) is a Greek left politician, member of the Hellenic Parliament, president of the Synaspismós political party and head of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary group.

## Quotes

* We don't claim that there is plenty of money. Greek people are not asking for money. They are asking for work and the ability to make a living.
** As quoted in "Debt debate veers with Greek polls close" (UPI), 2 June 2012.
* I want to be honest with you. We did not achieve the agreement we expected before the January elections... I feel the deep ethical and political responsibility to put to your judgment all I have done, successes and failures.
** As quoted in "Tsipras resigns, paving way for snap Greek election", Investing.com (20 August 2015).
* What's needed is patience and composure. The bank deposits of the Greek people are fully secure. The same applies to the payment of wage and pension — they are also guaranteed.
** As quoted in "Greece's prime minister — seeking to calm Greek citizens — quotes FDR: 'The only thing to fear is fear itself'" businessinsider.com (28 June 2015).
* Sophocles taught us that the greatest of all human laws is justice… and I think that is something we have to remember.
** As quoted in "Greek Prime Minister Tsipras Quotes Sophocles: What Do Ancient Greek Playwrights And Philosophers Say About Debt?", ibtimes.com (08 July 2015).

## Quotes about

* Millions of Europeans looked with hope to this country, and it was Alexis Tsipras’s Syriza government (elected that January) [2015] that had the responsibility for keeping that window open, and for opening it up further for others. What these millions wanted a break from was not even true neoliberalism, but what I would call bankruptocracy — a new regime in which the greatest power was wielded by the most bankrupt bankers. Tsipras’s surrender in July 2015 closed that window of opportunity... Ever since he surrendered to the troika, Tsipras... dilemma put to progressives: “Who do you want to torture you — an enthusiastic torturer, or someone like me who doesn’t want to torture you but will do it to keep his job?” This was his line in September 2015 [in that year’s second general election, after Syriza caved to the troika]. But four years later, after pushing through the most naked, harshest austerity policies anywhere in Europe... he can no longer blackmail progressives with lesser-evil arguments... Can you believe that Tsipras has become best buddies with Benjamin Netanyahu?
** Yanis VarouFakis, We Have Nothing to Lose but Our Debts”, An Interview with Yanis VarouFakis, Jacobinmag,David Broder (7 June 2019)
* I once spoke to a politician, a man that I respect and I will say the name: Alexis Tsipras. And speaking of this and the accords not to let [migrants] in, he explained the difficulties to me, but in the end, he spoke to me from the heart and said this phrase: <human rights are before accords>.
** Pope Francis saying in a transcript of the Catholic News Agency during a press conference (1 April 2019)

## External links

* Homepage of Alexis Tsipras, 2014 candidature for European Commission President
* Curriculum Vitae Synaspismos website
* Ανοιχτή Πόλη
* Tsipras MP profile on Vouliwatch.gr
* Tsipras profile on Twitter.com