Tsipras to EU: Greece's Days as 'Laboratory for Austerity' Are Over

As the European Parliament convened in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday all eyes—and ears—were aimed at Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as he made his case for why the European Union must change its handling of the financial crisis in his own country and across the continent.

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Arguing that his people—who overwhelmingly rejected the terms of a previous deal in a referendum on Sunday—have suffered more than enough living inside a “laboratory for testing austerity,” Tsipras said his goal is to keep Greece in the eurozone, but that a “viable agreement” must replace what has been so far offered from the group of foreign creditors known as the Troika.

“We want an agreement that will give a final end to the crisis and show there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Tsipras declared. So far, he argued, the bailout funds have not gone to help the Greek economy or the people, but instead have been funneled back to financial interests which have received political firepower from maneuvers by the European Central Bank, the IMF, and the most powerful members of the European Commission.

“The money that was given to Greece never went to the people,” he continued. “The money was given to save Greek and European banks.”

As the Washington Post reports:

During his speech in parliament, Tsipras said that on Thursday his government would offer “some very specific proposals” on what new deal should contain.