Tsipras raises its voice against “irrational demands” – Reuters

George Georgiopoulos

ATHENS, May 24 (Reuters) – Alexis Tsipras has raised the tone in the ongoing negotiations with creditors of Greece saying Saturday that his government had done its share of work and he would not yield to “irrational demands”.

The government left Syriza, came to power in Athens in January, four months negotiating with its eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the release of a last tranche of 7.2 billion euros of financial assistance program, essential to avoid a default as Greece still lacks access to bond markets.

The discussions on needed reforms against in-part by the creditors’ Athens block on pensions, reform of labor market, budget goals and the increase of the VAT rate.

“We are in the final stage of a painful and difficult period formed by the government’s negotiations with the institutions’ (note the term that replaced the ‘troika’ rejected by the Greek opinion), “said Tsipras, speaking before the Central Committee of the Syriza party.

Back in Riga, where he met with Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the EU summit on the Eastern Partnership of the EU, Tsipras promised he would accept no “humiliating conditions”.

“The overwhelming majority of the Greek people wants a solution, not just a deal, and supports the Government in this difficult negotiation, “he has said.

Under pressure from the left wing of his party, Tsipras attacked representatives of some creditors, he accused, benefiting financial asphyxiation Greece to try to obtain further concessions.

“We will not give in to irrational demands on issues of VAT, pensions and the labor market while the architects of the most unsuccessful program in the history of IMF bailouts insist on extreme measures in order not to admit their failure, “he said. More …