Troika makes Greece visit - The Best from Greece

Posted on: 19/Nov/2011

International lenders are today pressing Greece's political parties to give written guarantees that they will back austerity measures under a bailout deal aimed at saving the country from financial ruin.

The leader of conservative New Democracy - one of three parties in the new national unity government of technocrat Prime Minister Lucas Papademos - has stirred dismay in the EU by refusing to sign any pledge, saying his word is enough.

New Democracy chief Antonis Samaras has said his support for the interim coalition is conditional and temporary, and has begun jockeying for position before an election tentatively timetabled for February 19th in which he wants to win a big majority.

Representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - the "troika" which monitors Greek compliance with its rescue deals - are meeting Mr Samaras in Athens today.

They are also holding talks with the other coalition parties, the Socialist Pasok and the small far-right LAOS, to measure their commitment to implementing a wave of spending cuts and tax increases needed to unlock more loans.

Underscoring the pressure on Athens, Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said yesterday the parties had "to make a clear and unequivocal choice in writing" by signing a pledge. "Are they with us or not? We don't have the luxury of patience any longer," he said.

EU leaders, weary of Greece's failure to deliver on fiscal targets, fear its politicians will try to wriggle out of their commitments as the early election looms, especially if Athens gets an €8 billion installment under an old bailout deal.

The new bailout, approved last month, is worth an additional 130 billion euros and is meant to keep the country of 11 million people financed until 2014.

Support for both Pasok and New Democracy, which have dominated Greek politics for decades, has eroded over the past week, opinion polls show. However, more than two-thirds of voters back Mr Papademos, a former central banker who is the sole technocrat in a coalition otherwise made up of party politicians.

Reuters

source: http://www.irishtimes.com

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Troika makes Greece visit - The Best from Greece
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Accommodation Business Culture & Arts Entertainment Food & Drink General Greek Gastronomy Media Products Recreation Sea Tourism Shopping Sports Tourism Travel	Troika makes Greece visit Posted on: 19/Nov/2011 International lenders are today pressing Greece's political parties to give written guarantees that they will back austerity measures under a bailout deal aimed at saving the country from financial ruin. The leader of conservative New Democracy - one of three parties in the new national unity government of technocrat Prime Minister Lucas Papademos - has stirred dismay in the EU by refusing to sign any pledge, saying his word is enough. New Democracy chief Antonis Samaras has said his support for the interim coalition is conditional and temporary, and has begun jockeying for position before an election tentatively timetabled for February 19th in which he wants to win a big majority. Representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - the "troika" which monitors Greek compliance with its rescue deals - are meeting Mr Samaras in Athens today. They are also holding talks with the other coalition parties, the Socialist Pasok and the small far-right LAOS, to measure their commitment to implementing a wave of spending cuts and tax increases needed to unlock more loans. Underscoring the pressure on Athens, Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said yesterday the parties had "to make a clear and unequivocal choice in writing" by signing a pledge. "Are they with us or not? We don't have the luxury of patience any longer," he said. EU leaders, weary of Greece's failure to deliver on fiscal targets, fear its politicians will try to wriggle out of their commitments as the early election looms, especially if Athens gets an €8 billion installment under an old bailout deal. The new bailout, approved last month, is worth an additional 130 billion euros and is meant to keep the country of 11 million people financed until 2014. Support for both Pasok and New Democracy, which have dominated Greek politics for decades, has eroded over the past week, opinion polls show. However, more than two-thirds of voters back Mr Papademos, a former central banker who is the sole technocrat in a coalition otherwise made up of party politicians. Reuters source: http://www.irishtimes.com «« Let's get back to the News Overview	Mykonos Rhodes Crete Aegina Kefalonia Ios Book Online Mykonos Rhodes Crete Aegina Kefalonia Ios
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