EUROZONE-GREECE/ATHENS GOVERNMENT ARRIVALS Tsipras braces for backlash after clinching Greek deal

Record ID: 147282

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/ATHENS GOVERNMENT ARRIVALS Tsipras braces for backlash after clinching Greek deal
  • Date: 13th July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 13, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE MEDIA OUTSIDE OFFICE GATE CAMERAMEN OUTSIDE OFFICE GATE GREEK FINANCE MINISTER, EUCLID TSAKALOTOS, GETTING OUT OF CAR TSAKALOTOS WALKING UP STEPS CAR OUTSIDE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE GREEK STATE MINISTER, ALEKOS FLABOURARIS, ARRIVING SYRIZA PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER, NIKOS FILIS, WALKING DEPUTY FINANCE
  • Embargoed: 28th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACDHA102H8HEVFVTENTW7ISFHZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras convened a meeting of ministers on Monday (July 13) to discuss the controversial bailout deal struck in Brussels, shortly after arriving back in Athens.
    Anger was mounting after the prime minister conceded more painful austerity and reforms of value added tax, pensions and budget cuts if Greece misses fiscal targets.
    He was also due to meet the head of his coalition ally, the Independent Greeks, who have said certain tax hikes and defence spending cuts were so-called "red lines".
    Tsipras will need the support of opposition lawmakers to pass the reforms by a deadline set by the creditors for Wednesday (July 15), possibly by forming a national unity government.
    From his party, 17 rebels refused to support the bailout talks, including two ministers and the Parliament President Zoe Constantopoulou.
    The prime minister, as well as selling the deal, will have to re-shuffle his cabinet either before or after the planned vote.
    Constantopoulou is key to the logistics of the voting and has been one of the creditors' fiercest critics. One potentially risky move could be tabling a no confidence vote to sack her.
    Amongst the ministers attending was Syriza's parliamentary spokesman, Nikos Filis, who had earlier told Antenna TV that he gave his support to the deal but criticised Germany for "attempting to destroy Europe".
    While there was relief that the country had escaped bankruptcy and a collapse of its banking system, Greeks vented their fury at an agreement that ended up much tougher than proposals they had roundly rejected in a referendum on July 5.
    The Greek civil service umbrella union ADEDY has called for rallies on Tuesday (July 14) to oppose the agreement and said they would hold a 24-hour strike on the day of the parliament vote.
    Syriza's hard left section has also called for rallies to oppose the deal.
    Greece however aims to reopen its banks on Thursday (July 16), bankers said after meeting Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos who came back with Tsipras on Monday from Brussels. Facing a wave of withdrawals, the banks closed two weeks ago.
    Greek authorities will reassess the situation on Wednesday (July 15).
    Greece imposed capital controls, rationing cash to a daily withdrawal limit of 60 euros from automatic teller machines after a surge of withdrawals threatened to overwhelm the system.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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