Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is briefing Parliament on Monday on developments concerning the negotiation with Greece’s creditors. On Sunday, he asked Parliamentary Speaker Zoi Konstantopoulou to conduct a plenary session at a political leaders level at 8 a.m based on code 142A of the constitution. Tsipras hopes, in this way, to discuss all issues that the Greek government covered with the three institutions and open talks with the opposition leaders.
During his briefing, Tsipras is expected to place a number of dilemmas forth for the opposition parties’ consideration. These questions concern the prudence of the humanitarian crisis bill and legislation concerning the payment of overdue debt in 100 installments. Furthermore, in this framework, the opposition will be called to give its opinion as to whether Tsipras was right to put forth the matter of the Siemens scandal and the repayment of the WWII Nazi loan during his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Sources state that the government hopes to conduct an evaluation of its movements over the last two months.
Over the next three days, a number of issues will be put to the table concerning the agreement or conflict with Greece’s creditors; the application or rejection of harsh measures; the funding or collapse of the Greek economy; and asphyxiation caused by moves made by the EU partners and the European Central Bank (ECB).
Discussions between technical groups of both sides in Brussels will reconnoiter and test the limitations of both sides as well as seek common ground for a solution. Even if Euro Working Group meetings take place on Tuesday, fnal decisions will be made at the Eurogroup on Wednesday.
Wednesday is seen as a key date bearing in mind that Catholic Easter is this weekend, hence services will be closed. Greece will need to meet its loan obligations by April 9. If there is no agreement in due time, then there is speculation as to whether an agreement will ever come.
Government optimism
The Government Council appeared optimistic after a 6-hour meeting on Sunday where MPs were briefed by the Prime Minister on reforms that the Ministry of Finance had presented to the Brussels Groups. The negotiations were deemed to be in the interests of the Greek people and were seen as being mutually beneficial to both Greece and international creditors.
Tsipras’ partners said that discussion with the Brussels Group was positive and, according to sources, it is possible that a Euro Working Group meeting could take place on Wednesday.
Wall Street Journal says Greek proposals aren’t detailed
Despite government optimism, a Wall Street Journal article on Wednesday stated that Eurozone officials do not believe that the reforms presented by the Greek side are detailed enough to satisfy international creditors. WSJ said that a Eurogroup meeting will not take place prior to mid-April. Sources state that despite the fact that negotiations took place in a friendly climate, there is still distrust shown to the Greek government by the rest of the Eurozone.
