Greece continues to exasperate his creditors – Le Figaro

At the G7 gathered around Angela Merkel, the Greek situation weighed on the discussions. No compromise seems to with the government of Alexis Tsipras.

Angela Merkel would no doubt set the preferred topic before the opening of the G7. But the Greek question is still pending. If it is not on the formal agenda of discussions held Sunday and Monday in Elmau in Bavaria, it occupies the minds of the leaders … But German Chancellor has worked hard in recent days: it brought together creditors Athens on Monday and she still kept Friday night with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the head of state Francois Hollande. Discussions are still blocking. It was obviously question Elmau. “It is not an element of concern” are we trying to relativize the French side. But it is confirmed that the Greek question was raised between the leaders. “It is not a central point of the G7,” we are assured, as if a Grexit was no longer a threat to the world economy.

“The document submitted to the Prime Minister is at the limit of the insult”

Before the summit, the Greek government chose the dramatization. Friday, Alexis Tsipras said it was “unrealistic” the latest European proposals. Sunday, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis assured that his country would refuse this offer then. “It was an aggressive move designed to terrorize the government not understand that the Greek government can not be terrorized,” he has explained Proto Thema daily. “The document submitted to the Prime Minister is at the limit of the insult,” he added. The Greek Government claims to have presented alternative proposals to its creditors.

This tactic is unlikely to intimidate the European leaders of the G7. Shortly after arriving in Elmau, where he attends the G7 discussions, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker expressed, told reporters, his annoyance. “I have never received the proposal alternative” of Greece, got upset Jean-Claude Juncker. On Friday, he refused to take Alexis Tsipras the phone. “I want to study the Greek proposals before speaking,” he has explained before submitting a formal stern warning: “I have no problem with Alexis Tsipras friends but we have to respect a minimum of rules “. If Grexit is not an option studied, “there was a dead line for sure,” he noted. We can not “pull a rabbit out of the hat to achieve the goal without additional effort.” The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also warned: “A Grexit would fail. But the Greek government must carry out the reforms. ” The G7 leaders have also supported the efforts of negotiations Jean-Claude Juncker.

The United States closely follow the discussions and encourage Europeans to find a solution, even soften their positions. Barack Obama reiterated Angela Merkel during their bilateral meeting: an agreement must be found to avoid unnecessary market volatility. A new Greek crisis would be “potentially dangerous,” warned last week the Secretary of State Jack Lew treasure. But nobody wants to compromise on his principles. The talks stalled over the primary surplus targets set for Greece and the reform of VAT and retreats.

By choosing to make its upcoming repayments to the IMF at a time, on June 30, rather than start on Friday, Athens was given a little time. Anyway, the days are numbered. Alexis Tsipras could again go to Brussels on Wednesday. During the summit Europe Latin America, he could meet Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel will also find therein. Unless a surprise meeting takes place earlier.