EUROZONE-GREECE/TSIPRAS-KAMMENOS Greek proposals for rescue package 'going very well' - defence minister

Record ID: 147882

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/TSIPRAS-KAMMENOS Greek proposals for rescue package 'going very well' - defence minister
  • Date: 9th July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 9, 2015) (REUTERS) GREEK DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, YANNIS DRAGASAKIS, LEAVING PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AFTER CABINET MEETING GREEK ECONOMY MINISTER, GEORGE STATHAKIS, LEAVING PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE DEFENCE MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE INDEPENDENT GREEKS PARTY, PANOS KAMMENOS, WALKING DOWN STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER, PANOS KAMMENOS, SA
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4S8E35ZHOEE4S0ONGVNN7US9S
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras raced on Thursday (July 9) to finalise a tough new proposal, which includes tax hikes and pension reforms, that he can present to international creditors in order to secure a new aid lifeline and avoid crashing out of the euro.
    Tsipras was huddled with advisers, pulling together a package of reforms that is expected to include much tougher measures than those included in a previous plan from creditors that was rejected by Greeks in a referendum on Sunday.
    But having won wide public support at the referendum and the subsequent backing of opposition parties, an emboldened Tsipras is expected to have an easier time facing down any resistance at home, allowing him to focus to appeasing creditors.
    Although the leader of the far-left flank of the ruling Syriza party, Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, said he would find it hard to accept more austerity measures, the leader of the junior coalition Independent Greeks Party, Panos Kammenos, who is also the defence minister, was upbeat about the chances of a deal with creditors.
    "Everything is going very well. Nobody should be worried. Everything will be fine. Very soon, we will be fine," he said after Tsipras held a cabinet meeting.
    With banks shuttered and the economy grinding to a halt after two weeks of capital controls, Syriza rebels will have a tougher time making their case against any deal with creditors that paves the way for banks to open again.
    Greece's European partners want the reforms proposal on the table before the end of Friday and Athens has promised to produce it on Thursday at the latest. If satisfied, the European leaders will endorse the package on Sunday, averting a potential Greek exit from Europe's single currency.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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