Greek PM Alexis Tsipras more-or-less ended snap election speculation with his comments on Tuesday before his ruling SYRIZA party’s political secretariat, with party sources saying he cited a “recent and powerful popular mandate” that he is determined to implement

In reference to the ongoing and still unresolved “Greek issue”, he told party cadres that negotiations are at their most phase, while calling on the party to support the government effort.

Tsipras also reportedly referred to a “massive majority” in support of his government, saying this is the country’s most “powerful weapon” in negotiations.
It’s worth noting that his radical leftist SYRIZA picked up just more than 36 percent in the Jan. 25 election, coming up just short of a number needed for a Parliament majority. SYRIZA formed a coalition government with the small, rightist Independent Greeks (AN.EL) party.

As Tsipras was addressing party cadres, 22 of his party’s deputies tabled a draft bill envisioning salary increases to replace income cut in memorandum-mandated austerity measures.