Greece: Tsipras reshuffles before the start of negotiations on the 3rd … – Les Echos

Alexis Tsipras has reshuffled his government on Friday night by removing ministers opposed the reforms demanded by Greece’s partners. Greek Prime Minister ousted slingers three ministers who voted Thursday against the adoption of this package of controversial measures, while strengthening its position Tsakalotos Euclid, his finance minister, enjoyed his counterparts in the euro area.

Of the outgoing include the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Panagiotis Lafazanis and Deputy Minister for Finance Valavanis Nadia, who had submitted his resignation. The leader of the radical left government had sharply criticized the attitude of Thursday 32 dissident MPs Syriza, saying the party had left “bruised” of this sling that now makes it hostage to the opposition.

postponed Handover

The Prime Minister has, however, warned that the handover would be delayed because of forest fires that declared Friday near Athens and in the southern Peloponnese. The reshuffle, the first major since the arrival in power of Syriza there six months, amounts to a resumption in hand and message value sent to creditors who continue to doubt the will – and capacity – the Greek Executive to meet its commitments

It is also for Alexis Tsipras to present a collected executive and in working order before the vote at the latest on 22. July of the second package of measures demanded by creditors, concerning that both banks and civil justice.

It comes as members of the Bundestag gave the green light for the launch of Negotiations for a third aid package for Greece over 80 billion euros, meeting the demand of Chancellor Angela Merkel to avoid “chaos.” The Austrian Parliament, meeting in extraordinary session too, did the same.

“Last chance” for Greece

These last obstacle removed, the European fund ESM, which will provide new billions in Athens eventually formally approved” the principle of the decision to provide support to Greece in the form of a credit program. ” It was taken Monday in Brussels after dramatic negotiations

now remains to Athens and its European partners to agree in the coming weeks. – Ideally before August 20, next big financial deadline for Athens. – on how this aid, which will not be an easy task with discussions that lie ahead strained debt

So earlier this week that the relief prevailed in European capitals to have escaped the “Grexit” scenario feared exit of Greece from the euro, skepticism prevailed since. This “last chance” for Greece only work if “the Greeks mobilize all their forces,” warned the Bundestag the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

Relief of the Greek debt

Now in Greece, Alexis Tsipras, who has no parliamentary majority, reiterated that he was” disagree “with many aspects of program, which involves heavy sacrifices in the form of an overhaul of the pension system or the VAT increase, already put back on track. These Athens reluctance feed doubts about “the will and the capacity” of the Greek government to implement what he promised, noted Thursday ECB President Mario Draghi.

One of the main sticking points in future discussions will be the reduction of the Greek debt, which reached more than 300 billion euros (180% of GDP). Claimed by Athens from the beginning, this development is also required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who makes his participation in a new assistance plan. The ECB joined them on the subject on Thursday.

But on the side of Berlin, the opposition is still adamant to a reduction of the nominal value of the debt. Wolfgang Schäuble on Friday called for finding a way “realistic” without debt relief, which it considers contrary to the European Treaties.

Money 4.2 billion to the ECB Monday

For a stopgap, including a return of 4.2 billion euros to the ECB on Monday Athens can in any case count on immediate loan of 7 billion euros drawn from a community fund, officially released by the 28 Friday.

A committee of the Swedish Parliament agreed. European capitals are not members of the euro, London in mind, were initially reluctant to get involved in the rescue of the currency bloc. In the German Bundestag, where the discontent had swelled in recent weeks, Angela Merkel was able to count on a large majority in favor of new aid (439 of 598 votes cast).

But in his conservative camp (CDU / CSU) 65 MPs defected, more than the expected fifty and twice refusals recorded in the last vote on Greece in February. More than half of Germans (53%) are still favorable for further aid to Athens, according to a survey released on Friday. In Finland, only a quarter of respondents in another survey support this project.

Source AFP