Ruling SYRIZA’s militant anti-capitalist wing, the “Left Platform”, on Friday appeared impervious to attempts by the rest of the government to find a compromise with eurozone creditors amid a looming cash crunch.

In a text posted on the site iskra.gr, which reflects the grouping’s views, the headline reads: “Brussels Group begins amid German-EU blackmail – Lenders asphyxiating the country”, a phrase attributed to high-ranking minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, the chief proponent of the “Left Platform”.

In blunt language, Lafazanis, who holds the important production, environment and energy portfolio, called on his leftist government to “clash” with its partners. He also expressed doubts over whether a solution with the “institutions” will be viable, while charging that “dilemmas” posed by the creditors are akin to blackmail and are strangling the economy.

In another interview set for publication on Saturday, Lafazanis, who began his political career with the Communist Party, favored a “tough confrontation, if not a clash, with a German Europe … and the EU establishment”.

In harking back to his “class struggle days”, Lafazanis added that the latter’s behavior is indicative of “ruthless imperialists towards one of their far-off colonies.”

Furthermore, he rejects any idea of compromise with Greece’s creditors that would include a freeze on SYRIZA’s campaign promises, before indirectly sending a “warning” to the party’s leadership.

“(Greek PM) Tsipras, Lafazanis and all of us in SYRIZA have one and only order and choice: To proceed ahead with our principles, values and our program, based on our finest historical traditions and social struggles.”