According to sources from the Ministry of Finance the Greek side has sent a letter without its proposals on how to close the negotiations to the institutions. These include a reduced tax-free limit, new taxes and new cuts on salaries.
In the letter it is clarified that he will personally explain the government’s positions on January 26th.
The same sources report that the Greek government is willing to accept 6bn Euros primary surplus from 2018 and on and new measures from 2019. These may include an 80%(!) cut in salary and pensions as well as keeping the 3,5% primary surplus beyond 2019. Mr. Tsakalotos insists, however, 1nb Euros from these to go to tax reductions, something, that does not decrease, though, the 6bn Euros surplus pressure on the taxpayers.
The Greek government seems to be retreating from its initial positions on many fronts, like the tax-free limit which they agree to go even as low as 7500 Euros from 8636 that its is today, an increase of the middle VAT from 13% to 14% or even 15%, a reduction of the social benefits etc.
Mr. Tsakalotos will probably not be received very warmly on the meeting of the 26th of January…