Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will fully back the one-article draft law outlining the “Greekment” with European creditors when it comes before a Parliament vote on Wednesday, whereas close aides again flatly dismissed reports that he will resign.
“That would be neither ethical nor expedient,” one close aide stressed.
Government sources also said that Tsipras will demand the resignation of any minister that does not sign the draft bill. On Tuesday it wasn’t clear whether the entire Cabinet will sign the bill or just the minister whose responsibilities deal with implementing entailed measures.
The same sources also ruled out the creation of a “special purpose” or an all-party government, with the current coalition scheme with the rightist-populist AN.EL party continuing in its current form.
Nevertheless, “losses” in any looming reshuffle are expected to included Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis and Alternate Social Insurances Minister Dimitris Stratoulis, both of whom voted “present” when the government’s proposal to creditors passed through Parliament last Friday.
Nearly three dozen SYRIZA MPs are potential dissenters in the Wednesday evening vote for the agreement, with some promising to resign and others not.
According to reports, Alternate Finance Minister Nadia Valavani is reportedly close to a resignation not only from her minister’s post but from her deputy’s seat as well.
Debate, expected to be lively, and a subsequent vote on the draft omnibus bill will start on Wednesday morning and conclude in the evening. The draft bill contains the measures agreed to with Greece’s creditors in exchange for a third bailout from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
The process is described as “fast track”, meaning that it must be concluded within 10 hours.