EU summit: Tsipras apparently wants to ask for help – tagesschau.de

Date: 19/03/2015 15:14 clock

Prime Minister Tsipras will speak at a special meeting on the debt dispute on the edge of the EU summit. Apparently needs Athens earlier than agreed new loans. In his own country Tsipras must meanwhile be 200-million-euro program defend combating poverty.

By Thomas Bormann, ARD Radio Studio Istanbul

Is that enough money in the Greek Treasury still for a week? Or for a month? Or is it longer? Apparently, no one knows for sure, maybe not even the Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. What is clear is that the hole is grown in the Greek treasury, because the tax revenue has fallen dramatically. The Greek State in the first weeks of this year, about two billion euros less occupied than planned

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200-million-euro program to combat poverty

In addition, new issues decided yesterday the Greek Parliament: With 200 million euros a year, the government plans to combat social hardship in Greece and set the poorest families food and free flow available .

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras solves a a campaign promise. “With this law, we show that we stand by the people who most needed help,” stresses Varoufakis. “It’s the first time in five years that a law does not require the citizen victims, but on the contrary. This law supports the vulnerable sections of the population”

Tsipras wants ” political solution “to the crisis

It is important to help people in need to be observed as savings goals – that is the creed of Tsipras. Of this he wants in the evening convince Chancellor Angela Merkel, ECB chief Mario Draghi and further EU leaders at the summit in Brussels. Tsipras seeks a so-called “political solution” to the acute financial need to.

Behind the phrase “political solution” hiding obviously an admission that Greece agreed three weeks before the timetable not can comply. The end of February namely Greece had agreed that new aid loans are the earliest flow in late April, when Greece has implemented further reforms. But apparently Greece needs earlier new loans in order not to fall into bankruptcy.

Greece admits a liquidity problem

Shortly before the EU summit, the Greek government granted a liquidity problem. Athens needs the support of the European partners to avoid a cash shortage, said Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Dragasakis. “We run the risk to remain without money.” Greece did not receive a tranche of donors since
August, but I’m still meeting its obligations.

According to a newspaper report, the Athens government will ask state provider about money. Thus, water and electricity providers responsible for the public debt management Finance Agency money market securities to buy
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opposition criticizes high spending on poverty reduction

If the cash situation is so serious, why does the government then this 200-million-euro program to combat poverty decide is that neither matched with lenders still refinanced in the household, asked Adonis Georgiades of the conservative “New Democracy” in Parliament in Athens , “You, Mr. Tsipras, and your government have signed an agreement that they decide that no unilateral steps that impact on the budget.”

Derlei arguments but has Tsipras indignantly. It was a “nerve” to denigrate help for people in need. “.. Some are so outrageous and throw us unilateral steps against self here in Parliament that have alleging If they do to intimidate us, then my answer is simple: We can not intimidate or discourage.”

Well and good, replied Evangelos Venizelos of the Social Democratic opposition PASOK party and warned in the same breath as risky is this policy. Decide on new spending and delay simultaneously implement the requirements of the lender – so it will be difficult to find a compromise with the Euro-partners. “I just hope that we can still avoid to go full force against the wall. But unfortunately, our country is moving towards it, without any brake,” said the little helpless Conclusion of Venizelos.