Government sources said that the negotiations with the Brussels Group are continuing as usual following the return of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras from Brussels. The goal of the new circle of contacts in the framework of negotiations with Brussels Gropu is a new extraordinary Eurogroup meeting that would approve the completion of the Greek review and give the green light for an interim agreement until June as foreseen by the February 20 Eurogroup deal.

Tsipras met in Brussels with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where he clarified the need for an interim agreement, but he also had talks with French President Francois Hollande and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, SYRIZA Parliamentary Spokesman Nikos Filis left open the possibility for a return to polling booths – either for a referendum or for early elections. “If our political plans need to be rebaptized with the people’s opinion, then so be it,” he said. “We are aiming for compromise. If this needs a popular manddate, then we are not afraid.”

In Latvia, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis underlined that the Greek government is open to making a compromise provided that it is one that is in accordance with a “new developmental model for Greece.”

A barrage of verbal attacks against Varoufakis from his foreign counterparts who called him a “time waster” and “gambler”. In an informal briefing, the PM’s coworkers stated that there was a “constructive and positive climate” but that there was a “political mandate to find a solution”.Later, there was an effort to change the positive climate.

Greek government sources believe that “pressure on Greece is expected and will intensify as the time comes for a deal to be signed.” They underlined the statements by Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici who said that there is progress but efforts need to speed up.