ATHENS – "While Mitsotakis' government is moving ahead without a plan to lift the restrictions and is hastily trying to cultivate the image of an artificial return to normality, at the same time it has a plan for the economy – to radically restructure it for the benefit of the powerful, destroy the middle class, with the shuttering and buyouts of SMEs and skyrocketing unemployment that will act as a lever for abolishing labour rights," SYRIZA spokesperson Alexis Charitsis stated to radio "Sto Kokkino" on Friday.

Referring to people gathering in squares in protest, he stated that the government has sent the wrong messages, especially to young people, by rushing to reopen schools without any explanations but mainly for political gains.

He accused the government of passing laws "with the citizens 'in absentia' and in secrecy," citing as an example the recent "environmental bill that was passed in parliament without any debate, amidst the reactions of all organisations and society".

Normality, added Charitsis "first and foremost means the correct and full operation of democratic institutions. Unfortunately, the government's plan seeks to make democracy another victim of the extraordinary conditions created by the pandemic," he said.