ATHENS — Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras began his speech in Parliament by attacking Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over his attitude on national issues when he was in opposition.

"We welcome the expansion of the territorial waters of Greece in the Ionian. And of course we welcome you too, Mr. Mitsotakis, to another strategic choice of the SYRIZA government. After Prespes, now our territorial waters in the Ionian," Tsipras said, and recalled that "when our government announced this position, in October 2018, you insulted and undermined it publicly. Both you and your party, which was in opposition at the time. At least you did not declare a great patriotic war over that, as you did for the Prespes Agreement."

The leader of the main opposition accused the prime minister of being inconstant, adding: "But now… you have no problem applauding yourselves and each other. In this way you prove that your inconstancy in foreign policy matters was no mere coincidence, it is your second nature. Because in two crucial foreign policy issues, which we initiated with a sense of national responsibility, you did not hesitate to fight us with hypocrisy, even though you knew that we were right to initiate them and that their completion would benefit the nation, while you were in opposition. Then, once you became a government, you executed a u-turn on both."

Tsipras concluded by saying that the extension of territorial waters in the Ionian Sea was a good step for Greece but warned that "unless it is combined with a serious national strategy for the global, European and regional role of the country, with red lines but also determination and planning for solutions based on international law, we will be faced with even worse developments for the Greek people than those we saw in 2020."