Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appears to be amping the pressure on opposition parties just a few days after the failed political leaders meeting held on Saturday to gain consensus on social security measures. At Maximos Mansion, the Greek government headquarters, the ruling party appears to have pinned its hopes on rallying the parliamentary group of the two coalition parties (Radical Left Coalition SYRIZA and junior member Independent Greeks ANEL), while also eyeing further expansion of the government coalition with specific alliances, possibly with the Union of Centrists or other MPs.

Members of the SYRIZA body, however, have conflicting views on a possible collaboration with the Union of Centrists and its leader Vasilis Levendis.  Opponents of such an option, are members who are loyal to the SYRIZA faction known as the Group of 53 that were founded in mid-2014 and stand ideologically between the Left Platform and Tsipras’ core backers.

It is only if there is a collapse in support that the government will seek new alliances as a last resort.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Greek prime minister clarified his strategy. He said, during a speech at an annual business forum in Athens organized by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce that “unlike what was happening in the past with the governments of (socialist) PASOK and (conservative) New Democracy which were forced to implement a program and an agreement, this government’s political plan is not confined to the implementation of the agreement.” He said that the government has a plan for growth and that it will be implemented.

Furthermore , Tsipras noted that for debt debate on Greek debt restructuring there needs to first be a completion of the program review. He said that this is the government’s goal and it is achievable. He did point out that political party consensus would make it easier to achieve success.