The Greek government will not cut salaries and pensions, says Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, head of the small right-wing anti-austerity Independent Greeks (ANEL)  party, the junior coalition partner in the current government.

He said the government would remain firm on this even if painful measures are insisted on by Greece’s international creditors. He left open the possibility of a “rift” between Greece and Greece’s international creditors.

Kammenos said he does not want early elections and ruled out the possibility of a national unity government made up with other political parties.