ATHENS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Greek political leaders wished for a better future for debt-ridden Greece in their messages for the Orthodox Easter celebrated on Sunday.
"I wish for progress and development, with respect to the values and principles of justice, in particular social justice," said Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in an e-mailed press statement.
"I also wish that citizens of our great European family will defend with their verdict the European edifice from populism and racism forces," said Pavlopoulos.
"This is a day that symbolizes the victory of the Light against the darkness, of Justice against injustice, of Love against bigotry. It can be this year a day of certainty for a better future," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his message.
"After many difficult years we can be optimistic. The Calvary of the memoranda and of the surveillance is behind," he said, referring to harsh bailout programs Greece implemented from 2010 until the summer of 2018 in order to deal with an acute debt crisis and avert default with the support of international lenders.
