Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has yet to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with most political wags between Berlin and Athens referring to a desire by the new leftist government to avoid an open clash before the continent’s public opinion. He is reportedly aware that the German leader will call for an austerity program in Greece to continue, something diametrically opposed to the pledges made by Tsipras and his party, a policy that landed SYRIZA in government.
Sources close to Tsipras said he is meeting with officials who have already asked to meet him, however, Merkel has yet to seek a bilateral meeting.
One view is that Berlin wants to show the untested Greek leader that his position is isolated in Europe, according to a German official who spoke to Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity. Like Tsipras, Merkel sees little room for agreement and is skeptical of his claims that he can raise revenue by cutting corruption and increasing taxes on the rich in Greece — a leitmotif of repeated Greek governments for decades.
Merkel’s reluctance to meet with the Greek PM nevertheless may be in his benefit, as it gives him time to meet with other key leaders in Europe in order to discuss the issue of Greek debt and to rally support for Greek solutions. If judged from official statements and media coverage, however, Tsipras’ positions are far from being isolated, as Europe is beginning to take a closer, and decidedly more favorable view.
Merkel also appears bothered that someone, especially a Greek leader, is indifferent to her political domination and questions her policies without even seeking to contact the German government.
The Greek government is watching the German government’s rush to gloss over the cracks and fissures in the wall of austerity. imposed on Europe through contacts with all leaders coming into contact with Greece, but not Greece.
On Thursday, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is traveling to Germany for a meeting with his German counterpart and the European Central Bank as part of his post-election roadshow for support to back the Greek debt plan. The Greek government made it clear that the request was made through a written request by the Greek side.
It is still not clear if Tsipras will meet with Merkel on the sidelines of the upcoming EU summit.
Meanwhile, cartoonists and graphic artists are having a field day –
