German Finance Ministry: Tsipras announcements could delay debt relief measures

Beril “fires warning shot” in response to Greek PM’s announcements

The German Finance Ministry has called on the institutions to examine whether the announcements made by Greek PM Alexis Tsipras regarding the provision of a 13th pension to 1.6 million retirees is compatible with the Greek bailout program. “We are waiting for an immediate clarification on the matter so that the implementation of the medium-term measures on the relief of the Greek debt will not be delayed”, said the German Finance Ministry’s spokesperson, according to Reuters. He added that Berlin is requesting an answer to the issue as soon as possible, adding that the Greek program can move forward only if all parties reach an agreement. The statement comes on the heels of a statement by the CDU spokesperson Michale Stubgen, who said he expected little to come out of the trip of the Greek PM to Berlin and his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday. Stubgen told Deutsche Welle that he expected that political decisions would not overturn any agreements.