Chaotic countdown to bailout or bankruptcy

Published on 2 November 2012 at 15:18

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“The Six Day War has begun,” headlines *Ta Nea*, referring to the countdown to the next meeting of the Eurogroup, which could be held on November 8 to decide whether to go ahead and pay out 31.5 billion euros to Greece. But if he is to get this new tranche of aid from the EU, ECB and the IMF that Greece needs to avoid bankruptcy, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras must persuade Parliament to adopt a new austerity plan – especially since the Eurogroup is to meet again on November 12 to discuss the two-year period Athens claims it needs 2932341 to set its books in order.

In fact, confirms To Ethnos, the deputies are engaged in a “hand-to-hand battle” over the 11.5 billion euros in cuts put forward by the government. However the newspaper adds —

…the differences within the coalition between the New Democracy conservatives, PASOK socialists and the Democratic Left Party are becoming increasingly important. Defections of MPs from the latter two parties are increasing, which could jeopardise the adoption of the new austerity measures.

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The situation does not surprise editorialist Pantelis Kapsis —

The government was put together only four months ago, and as always in politics, it’s at risk of falling apart. Not because of major differences but because of little things.

The main victim of the turmoil could be PASOK and its leader Evangelos Venizelos, writes To Vima, expressing a widespread discontentment in the Greek press —

In the autumn of 2009, when George Papandreou came to power ten percentage points ahead [of his right-wing opponent Costas Karamanlis], he declared, ‘The money is available.’ Months later the country was placed under international administration. Many may not like to hear it, but Papandreou has laid the foundations for reforming Greece. Today, he has been replaced as the leader of PASOK by Evangelos Venizelos, and the historical party is in turmoil. Many regret that the party that ruled Greece for so long is fading away. But (…) no party ever left the political stage with ‘glory and honour’: if they had, they would not have left. Greece itself, though, will not be significantly affected either way if PASOK exits from public life. The country has already left it behind.

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