Time is pressing upon the government, since we’ve reached May and there is still no agreement, even though the government was saying that “until Tuesday there will be a deal”. But, on the contrary, what was confirmed was that apart from the impending big package of tax measures, selling the performing loans is also on the table along with the selling of the non-performing loans.

However, even with such measures, it is not likely that tranches and debt relief will be included in the negotiation talks and, therefore, the government creates an atmosphere of tension with the lenders. It submits unilaterally bills which until their passage can be changed with amendments, on the grounds that the government wants to be ready when the agreement is reached, either to present them to troika as fait accompli or, possibly, to change them the last moment according to what is requested by the Troika.

“We are working on the base that there will be an agreement ” said Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis during the joint conference, while Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos leaves for the Spring meeting of the IMF with three commitments on which Troika does not agree:

– Firstly, as a minister, Mr. Tsakalotos will not table a bill of tax-free threshold under 9,100 euros

– Secondly, two bills will be tabled to the parliament without the approval of the institutions (tax-free threshold at 9.091 euros and new pension bill) and

– Thirdly, that 90% of pensioners (and 80% of self-employed) will not be affected by the changes in social security