Greek PM Alexis Tsipras was received by the country’s president on Wednesday, immediately after he returned from a tumultuous two days in Brussels and Strasbourg — where, amongst others, he was served with an ultimatum by creditors to achieve a bailout deal.
On the sidelines of the meeting, held ostensibly to brief President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on the recent high-sensitive developments, aides to Tsipras dismissed various “political scenarios” circulating in the Greek capital claiming that he’ll resign.
Pavlopoulos, a long-time conservative lawmaker and minister, reiterated that Greece’s membership in the eurozone was unwavering.
Tsipras said the Greek side had officially requested a bailout line of credit from the ESM, with a detailed list of reforms to be submitted to creditors on Thursday. The Greek PM referred to “credible reforms aimed at achieving an honest compromise”.
He said the Greek side is waiting for clear commitments on funding and a restructuring of debt aimed at a viable solution.
Tsipras met later with centrist Potami party leader Stavros Theodorakis, who has emerged as a powerful pro-Europe voice in the country recently.
“Our allies, those that want Greece to remain in the euro exist, and they are working in the same direction that we are. Amongst those is President Hollande. There are opponents in Europe who are smiling at the prospect that we’ll abandon them. We won’t do them the favor, and their smile will be frozen on their lips,” Theodorakis said afterwards.
«Οι σύμμαχοί μας, αυτοί που θέλουν να μείνει η Ελλάδα στο ευρώ υπάρχουν και προσπαθούν στην ίδια κατεύθυνση που προσπαθούμε και εμείς. Μεταξύ αυτών και ο πρόεδρος Ολάντ. Υπάρχουν και αντίπαλοι στην Ευρώπη, που χαμογελούν με το ενδεχόμενο να τους εγκαταλείψουμε. Δεν θα τους κάνουμε το χατίρι και θα παγώσει το χαμόγελο στα χείλη τους» σημείωσε.
However, he wasn’t expected to brief Vangelis Meimarakis, the main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader on Wednesday evening. Later it was announced that Tsipras would meet with Meimarakis on Thursday.
ND sources have expressed displeasure with the one-on-one briefings instead of Parliament appearances.
