Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has renewed his determination to do away with austerity measures and accused the ECB of blackmail.<br /><br /> In a defiant first speech to parliament after returning empty-handed from a European tour, he said Athens was no longer open to being told what to do.<br /><br /> “We will respect the EU rule for primary balanced budgets, but let me make it clear to everyone: Austerity is neither a rule, nor is it part of the EU’ s founding principles,” said Tspiras.<br /><br /> In an apparent reference to the tough stance taken by the European Central Bank and others, Tspiras added: “Greece cannot be blackmailed because democracy in Europe cannot be blackmailed.”<br /><br /> Newly elected deputies had three ceremonies to take the oath of allegiance, one Orthodox followed by a Muslim and then a civil ceremony.<br /><br /> Our correspondent in Athens, Stamatis Giannis, said the new parliament will have little time to settle in.<br /><br /> “This was just a ceremonial occasion for the new Greek parliament, but troub
