Centrist Potami (River) leader Stavros Theodorakis was received in Brussels on Friday by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for a nearly two-hour meeting.

In statements afterwards, Theodorakis told reporters that Juncker believes the last Greek proposal is a “sufficient basis for negotiations”.

On his part, Theodorakis, who up until recently was a well-known television investigative journalist, said he briefed the EC president over the very pressing need for investments and growth in Greece,  to which a smiling Juncker reportedly replied that “35 billion is here and waiting for you.”

The former Luxembourg PM also said that the Commission is committed to direct procedure to boost entrepreneurship, so that the 35 billion euros is funneled directly into the market.

Potami leader refers to American support, following meeting with US Amb.

A day earlier, Theodorakis met with US ambassador to Greece David Pearce on Thursday, with talks reportedly (and predictably) revolving around developments on the still unresolved Greek crisis.

Theodorakis later told reporters in Parliament that the US envoy, a noted philhellene, told him that if there’s a Greek “yes”, then Washington will not accept a European “no”.

Sources within the party added that European partners appear uninterested in whether the SYRIZA government comes up short in Parliament in terms of votes by MPs in its coalition — under 150 — as long as a majority, with the votes of the opposition, conveys Greece’s acceptance of the bailout term agreement.