On Friday afternoon, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rushed out of his meeting with political party leaders.
According to reports, the reason behind the sudden exit was an urgent phone call with French President Francois Hollande.
The conversation had to do with the current hold-up in the visit of creditors’ representatives, according to government sources.
The technical teams of the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), also known as the institutions, were set to arrive in Athens on Friday to begin the examination of Greece’s economic situation and the progress of the required reforms.
However, earlier in the day, the IMF has asked for an official invitation by the Greek government to come to Athens as part of the institutions. Government sources had said that the Greek government sent an official invitation following the request.
During the phone call, Hollande also reportedly congratulated Tsipras for following the agreed stipulations for the negotiations of the 86-billion-euro bailout deal by legislating them in parliament. The two officials also agreed that both Greece and creditors must uphold their commitment to the deal.
The Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported on Friday that a European official said the ideal goal is to complete negotiations by mid-August.
Prior to speaking with the French President, Tsipras was attending a political leaders’ mini-summit under the supervision of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
The meeting, which lasted for a short time, took place on the 41st anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece.
Pavlopoulos praised party leaders for working together during this tough moment.
“Whatever differences there may be, you proved throughout this period that you rose the occasion,” he said. “And that is something the Greek people are aware of.”
Following the meeting, “To Potami” leader Stavros Theodorakis said that he did not feel the Prime Minister intends to hold elections soon.
“We are at a pivotal moment. There was a mood that everyone can have their objections but we are all committed to the deal until Greece secures its place in the European Union,” he said, adding that the completion of the bailout deal by August 18 or 19 is an attainable goal.
On August 20, the Greek government must pay 3.4 billion euros to the ECB for bonds and accumulated interest.
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