Conservative New Democracy (ND) Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and socialist (PASOK) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos concluded their meeting at Maximos Mansion, the prime minister’s seat. Their meeting, in the presence of Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis, was aimed at shaping proposals and finding compromise solutions in the dragging negotiations with the troika of Greece’s international lenders from the European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Leaving the meeting, Mr. Venizelos made no comment. Mr. Hardouvelis was asked to confirm whether the VAT tax rate will be increased and he responded with the statement that “a lot is being done.”