- Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/MORNING Weary Greeks await government reshuffle
- Date: 17th July 2015
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PARTHENON ON ACROPOLIS HILL EXTERIOR OF GREEK PARLIAMENT TOURISTS STANDING OUTSIDE GREEK PARLIAMENT GREEK FLAG FLYING ON PARLIAMENT FOUNTAINS IN SQUARE WITH PARLIAMENT IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN SQUARE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE CAFE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) 65-YEAR-OLD TEACHER, MARIA, SAYING: "In my opi
- Embargoed: 1st August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA9CB6C7Y7ULQ2CONBV1938ZX98
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A widely-anticipated government reshuffle failed to inspire Greeks weary after years of economic turmoil on Friday (July 17), but news that the country's banks were set to re-open was warmly greeted by others.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to reshuffle members of his cabinet after a revolt on the government benches by prominent figures on the left of his party, including Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis.
They refused to back a government bill to endorse negotiations for a third European bailout, though it was passed thanks to support from pro-European opposition MPs.
The measures are set to come before the German parliament for ratification later on Friday.
One Greek woman said that the measures -- which include tax hikes and spending cuts as well as labour reforms -- were harsh but that the important thing to focus on was growth.
"The conditions we're facing are very tough so I think that all of us are hoping for the same thing, regardless of our political beliefs: development and growth," she said.
Support for Tsipras has been sapped after he accepted bailout terms put by other European leaders which were even harsher than those rejected by a majority of Greeks in a referendum called on the issue.
But despite the apparent U-turn, the 40-year-old leftist premier still retained the support of many on the streets who believe he had no choice but to accept the conditions.
"Everything will be great. Tsipras is very strong," one woman said.
"I think that Tspiras is having difficulties because there are too many opinions (in his party). I believe that he has good intentions," pensioner Panagiotis Grigoriou said adding it would be hard for Tsipras to remain in place.
Dimos, an architect, said that even if there was a reshuffle, nothing much would change for ordinary Greeks.
"The reshuffle won't change anything. We've seen this many times before. The course that they have chosen in my opinion won't bring a solution. I think the problems are much deeper and they're internal and not exterior," he told Reuters.
Right-leaning newspaper Eleftheros Typos said that Tsipras was in a "whirlpool" after being abandoned by many in his party.
But newspaper Ta Nea celebrated the announcement that banks were to re-open on Monday after three weeks, though capital controls will remain in place.
"The first good news: banks open on Monday," their headline read. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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