“I welcome confirmation by the Minister that payment owing would be forthcoming on April 9,” managing director of International Monetary Fund told reporters after her meeting with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis on Easter Sunday in Washington.
Going to meeting with Varoufakis: Christine Lagarde of IMFogue in Anna-Wintour-look. Or just a groupie going to meet the rock star?
On his part Varoufakis said “We had a fruitful, extremely productive discussion about the Greek reform proposals,” adding “We are intent to meet all obligations to all its creditors, ad infinitum” and “reform Greece deeply.”
Talks between creditors’ and Greece’s technical teams (Burssels Group) over the terms of bailout are to “resume promptly” today Monday, Lagarde said.She also spoke of spoke of “due diligence”, stressed that”continuing uncertainty is not in Greece’s interest” and she said:
“I reiterated that the IMF remains committed to work with the authorities to help GR return to sustainable path growth and employment.”
We noted that continuing uncertainty is not in GR s interest welcomed confirmation that payment would be forthcoming on April 9th.
You know what this mean in IMF’s terms: hunger wages and absolutely no labor rights..
Behind the stage, Lagarde reportedly told Varoufakis that Greece has to proceed with “pensions cuts” and “Value Added Tax hikes.”
The Greek FinMin reportedly tried to persuade her that the IMF relaxes the conditions for further economic funding.”
Lagarde, Varoufakis and ex Greece’s responsible Poul Thomsen talked for two and a half hours, so they said also other important things we may hear in the next hours or never…
After Vaorufakis’ payment assurance, the “Credit event” scenario seems to have been averted. Greece will pay the €448-million tranche to IMF on April 9th and Greeks will celebrate Easter without fear of bankruptcy and Grexit.
Pressure continues
However – and as expected – Varoufakis’ promise does not hinder the usual “EU suspects”, the notorious “anonymous sources” to continue pressure on Greece, pulling their last cards to continue the atmosphere of insecurity.
According to Financial Times, the Europeans want Prime Minister Tsipras to get rid of SYRIZA’s “hard leftists” Left Platform and his coalition party nationalist Independent Greeks in order to facilitate a more pro-EU approach and voting in favor of more austerity in Greek parliament.
“Alexis Tsipras must choose if he wants to be the prime minister of Greece or the leader of the SYRIZA leftist party, the European officials say. If he wants the former, he must form a coalition with center-left parties To Potami and PASOK.” (source)
Sinking and falling apart PASOK? Not, Merkel’s and Rajoy’s friend Antonis Samaras and Nea Dimokratia? wow...
PS I told you before, the issue is political and not economical.
So, be prepared! Creditors and especially the so-called EU-partners will continue to play with our nerves.
I bet that the next hysteric scenarios coming from Brussels and Berlin will be on early elections… Main thing, they keep on putting economical and political pressure on Greece with only one target: weaken SYRIZA or -even better – get rid of SYRIZA all together.
yuh??? !!!
Its simple. Greece seems to think they are independent. They are not, they are under IMF and EU control. So naturally they dont want a Syriza govt.
If Greece wants be independent, to stay with Syriza and do whatever they please, there is only one option. Default and leave the Euro.
Maybe a referendum is a good idea, because then no one can complain anymore. It really would be the will of the people.
how could a referendum be different from the elections that took place?
Because people voted SYRIZA because they were seduced by Tsipras’ lies.
He cannot do what he promised and stay in the Euro, which he was trying to convince everyone. It’s just not possible.
An in/out Euro referendum will be much clear. Do Greek people want to stay in the Euro? If yes, then there will be conditions.
Do Greek people want to leave the Euro and follow their own policies with no interference from IMF and EU? Then that’s their choice.
Greek people need to understand reality and not listen to populism. There is no time for lies.
real life and politics are never black & white
I am for new elections.
To get rid of the “real Greeks”.
they just gettered in St Petersburg( old Leningrad)with even the German NPD and all the other rightwingers from Europe.
the Frence ones where not there because they had “department” elections
Putin ahoy.
unbelievelble.
I WONDER WHERE THE FUNDS TO MAKE THE PAYMENT IS COMING FROM (?)
THE EUROPEAN UNION IS VERY AFRAID AND IN REAL TERMS
THAT IT WILL ALL COME CRASHING DOWN
EVEN THOUGH GREECE CANNOT MAKE THE/A PAYMENT
THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PREPARED TO OVER LOOK THE DEFAULT & PRETEND A PAYMENT IS FORTHCOMING (?)
BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS SO FRAGILE
AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUT ESPECIALLY THE BANKS ARE AFRAID THAT IT WILL ALL FALL APART
AT ANY MOMENT
SEVERAL EU NATIONS ARE READY TO RUN
THERE ARE OTHER BANKS WAITING FOR THEIR BUSINESS YOU SEE
no need to wonder. it’s revenues from Greeks’ taxes.