- Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/BAILOUT Greeks pessimistic but resigned over new measures
- Date: 12th August 2015
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (AUGUST 12, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS VIEWS OF ATHENS / TEMPLE OF ACROPOLIS HILL VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE VARIOUS OF SHARE PRICE TICKER VARIOUS OF GRAPHS AND TICKER MORE OF TICKER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN SYNTAGMA SQUARE WITH PARLIAMENT IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) STUDENT STELIOS, 27, SAYING: "I don't feel too good (about the new bailout), especially with the fact that a left government ended up validating an agreement which was initiated by the Right. I think that, well, we've reached the point of no return. I don't know. I'm a bit pessimistic these days." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ALEXANDROS ANDRAS, 69, SAYING: "Things are indeed very difficult. We didn't expect our lives to become so difficult. We haven't seen anything yet, the measures are just about to come." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GERMAN-BORN VASSILIKI, SAYING: "I think this (bailout) is very hard for Greece, at this point. They will not be able to implement all of this, it's not going to happen." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PENSIONER CHRISTOS LINIS, 81, SAYING: "One way or the other, the previous governments would also eventually introduce a new bailout, because it was the previous governments that stole the money. Now we are paying for the money they (the previous governments) took. It was inevitable that either the previous governments or the current one would adopt (these measures)." PEOPLE AT NEWSPAPERS IN KIOSK NEWSPAPERS HANGING FROM KIOSK ELEFTHEROS TYPOS NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE READING: "Who is going to pay for Tsipras' bailout" NEWSPAPERS HANGING FROM KIOSK KATHIMERINI NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE READING: "The third bailout sets off new developments" THE EDITORS' NEWSPAPER (EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON) FRONT PAGE READING: "The bag of bailout opens" PEOPLE LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS IN KIOSK
- Embargoed: 27th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE0ADXTZBJEHTOXTG95HQAD6FM
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Greek financial markets opened slightly down on Wednesday (August 12) after surging a day before when Athens agreed to a multi-billion-euro bailout deal with international lenders that could potentially save the indebted country from financial ruin.
A Greek Finance Ministry official said the pact would be worth up to 85 billion euros ($94 billion) in fresh loans over three years. Greek banks would get 10 billion euros immediately and be recapitalised by the end of the year.
The agreement gives Greece some respite after a turbulent year marked by acrimonious talks with lenders, the imposition of capital controls and a three-week shutdown of its banks before Athens capitulated last month to creditors' demands for deep austerity measures in order to receive new loans.
But the deal has caused a rebellion within Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party, forcing him to rely on opposition support in parliament and raising talk of early elections in the autumn.
Doubts also remain about whether a leftist government elected on a pledge to reverse austerity can implement the punishing terms of a deal critics say compromises the left's basic principles.
Greeks in the capital appeared pessimistic over the new bailout measures.
"I don't feel too good, especially with the fact that a left government ended up validating an agreement which was initiated by the Right. I think that, well, we've reached the point of no return. I don't know. I'm a bit pessimistic these days," said 27-year-old student, Stelios.
Alexandros Andras said he feared the situation would get worse for normal Greeks.
"Things are indeed very difficult. We didn't expect our lives to become so difficult. We haven't seen anything yet, the measures are just about to come," said 69-year-old Andras.
Vassiliki, who was born in Germany, said she was doubtful Greece would be able to implement all aspects of the deal.
"I think this is very hard for Greece, at this point. They will not be able to implement all of this, it's not going to happen."
Christos Linis said he was resigned that the new measures would come into force, regardless of which government presided over it.
"One way or the other, the previous governments would also eventually introduce a new bailout, because it was the previous governments that stole the money. Now we are paying for the money they (the previous governments) took. It was inevitable that either the previous governments or the current one would adopt (these measures)," said the 81-year-old pensioner.
The deal dominated the front pages of newspapers on Wednesday morning, with headlines including: 'Who is going to pay for Tsipras' bailout' and 'The bag of bailout opens.'
The bailout deal, reached on Tuesday after marathon talks, is expected to be signed off by Greece's parliament and eurozone finance ministers this week to ensure Athens has enough cash to meet a chunky repayment to the European Central Bank on Aug. 20. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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