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Economy Minister: Schaeuble’s resistance to debt relief raises questions about Eurozone structure

Greek Economics Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou has accused German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble of being “dishonest” by blocking debt relief for Greece despite his acknowledgement that Athens has implemented significant reforms.

Papadimitriou told German newspaper Die Welt in an interview published on Thursday that Schaeuble first had acknowledged that Greece had met the requirements, but then changed his mind.

“I haven’t met Schaeuble yet and I don’t want to be impolite, but his behavior seems dishonest to me,” he added.

Papadimitriou said German resistance to debt relief for Greece raised questions about the very idea and structure of the euro zone. The success of right-wing populists in Europe also showed dissatisfaction with such European structures, he said.

“Greece is being made a sacrificial lamb,” he said.

Papadimitriou also warned Schaeuble against making decisions based purely on domestic politics, noting that Germany had also received debt relief when it was rebuilding after World War Two.

Debt relief is needed to help Greece expand its economy, he said, noting that Athens was not asking for a debt cut, but rather lower interest rates or longer repayment schedules.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos also called on the euro zone finance ministers to spell out concrete measures to reduce the Greek debt burden.

“Greece has fulfilled its commitments and adopted the required reforms. Now it is time for the Europeans to comply with their commitments on debt relief,” Pavlopoulos said in an interview with German business daily Handelsblatt.

German opposition politicians also criticized Schaeuble by honing in on the fact that the IMF is likely to participate in the third bailout, but will only disburse any loans when debt measures have been clearly outlined.

PS Thursday’s eurogroup meeting starts 4 pm Greek time and is expected to conclude around 10 o’ clock in the evening. good luck.

 

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One comment

  1. If there is one thing Schaeuble is not is dishonest. He has made it clear from the start that his purpose is to destroy Greece so that his country can loot its assets (look at the “sales” of the 14 airports, the Thessoloniki harbour etc.).
    The one who is dishonest here is Papadimitriou and his Quisling government colleagues and MPs who, for a fistful of dollars, have sold themselves and the country to Angela and Wolfie a long time ago.