WSJ: Greek tardiness in sending reforms list analyzed

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Greek government's awaited reform lists was pushed back to Tuesday morning as Greece failed to meet the Monday deadline. Eurozone finance ministers are due to review the proposed reforms to be put into place in exchange for continued funding for its 240-billion-euro bailout for another few months. Officials in Athens played down the missed deadline.

An EU official said that it didn't matter that the list would come a few hours past the deadline. The WSJ states that Greece's lateness is symbolic, suggesting that the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leadership is "struggling to meet the tough demands of its creditors on one hand while fending off internal dissension within its ranks on the other" just four weeks after coming into power.

Greek officials state that the first draft was sent on Monday afternoon and has been going back and forth after weeks of acrimony between Greece and its EU partners.

The WSJ points to funding difficulties to keep the new Greek government afloat. "After almost five years of budget cuts, tax increases and regulatory overhauls, the low-hanging fruit have long been picked," states the report. "Officials for the creditors have also indicated that they consider some measures - including further pension cuts and steps to liberalize the labor market - a must."

The article points to signs of discontent within SYRIZA with one lawmaker apologizing to voters for the government's failure to keep election promises, whereas other lawmakers stated they would only back new measures up to a point.

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