Alexis Tsipras accused the IMF to place the burden on the poor – Le Figaro

The negotiations between Greece and its creditors (EU, IMF) on reforms the country must adopt dragged on for several months. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attacks the IMF.

In an atmosphere of growing tension between Greece and its creditors (EU, IMF), the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rises again to the plate. “Greece does not understand why the IMF seeks at all costs to modify the reforms so as to (…) they are less progressive and a considerable part of the burden is on people rather poor” said the Prime Minister in an article published Friday in the Financial Times.

pension reforms, tax …. Alexis Tsipras has pledged to adopt extremely unpopular laws when it concluded an assistance plan of 86 billion euros with creditors last summer, under the threat of a country’s exit from the euro area (Grexit). Negotiations dragged on for several months now. However, Greece will soon need a new financial envelope to repay more than 2 billion euros of debt in July. An envelope that creditors will grant him only if an agreement is reached. Suffice to say that the pressure is increasing.

Still, unlike the European Commission, the IMF estimates that the reforms being negotiated will not allow Athens to achieve the goal of budgetary surplus ( revenues minus expenditures without debt load) of 3.5% of GDP in 2018, however, required in the aid package. In Washington on the sidelines of the IMF annual meeting that brings together the finance ministers of the planet, the executive director of the Fund Christine Lagarde did not mince his words. This objective is “highly unrealistic” and requires “heroic” efforts, she said the Financial Times. In short, Athens is reform more to replenish its coffers, or the Europeans decide to lighten more consistently the country’s debt, which is politically very delicate. Alternatively revise down the target budget surplus.

“I do not think we can be flexible on (target) 3.5% in 2018 because it is one of the foundations on which we agreed the last summer. So it will take a big effort to Greece, but I think it is feasible “, said the chairman of the finance ministers of the eurozone, Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

If the IMF is involved in this third aid package, he is not involved financially. The Fund has in fact conditioned its participation in a debt relief the country that weighs nearly 180% of GDP so that it is viable. Christine Lagarde, however, tried to reassure: “The form of our participation may vary depending on commitments from Greece and the commitment of European partners but we will not back down,” she said

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