The Greek government is optimistic that a deal with creditors will be signed within the next few days, based on statements by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.
Sources from Maximos Mansion say that European creditors support the Greek proposal for an automatic mechanism that would be cutting off state funding if fiscal targets are getting off track. Despite disagreements from the International Monetary Fund that demands contingency measures to be legislated in advance, government circles believe that the European side will prevail and the bailout program review will be completed in reasonable time.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday had a meeting with Vice President Yannis Dragasakis, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis and several of Tsipras’ advisors. The Greek officials decided against the precautionary measures the IMF is proposing.
There is satisfaction in government circles after the recently released Eurostat results estimate that the Greek economy will take an upward path in the second half of 2016. Greek officials believe that this is a strong negotiating tool.
The Greek finance minister will have a series of telephone contacts with euro zone peers, mainly German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and French counterpart Michel Sapin in order to drum up support for Monday’s extraordinary Eurogroup.
Meanwhile government officials have launched an attack through statements against main opposition New Democracy and certain mass media. They accuse the conservative party leader for aligning with the IMF position and media for manufacturing disaster scenarios regarding the bailout program review and the condition of Greece’s economy.
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