Tsipras shifts focus to Constitution

As government officials sought Tuesday to play down expectations of a swift conclusion to a dragging bailout review, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared the launch of a public consultation on a revision of the Constitution in an apparent attempt at distraction tactics.

Sources close to the ongoing negotiations between government officials and envoys representing Greece's international creditors Tuesday referred to "a course of convergence on a range of issues" between the two sides "that gives scope for optimism," using significantly less upbeat language than they did after a Eurogroup summit on February 20 where the resumption of talks had been decided. According to those sources, the challenge is to find a compromise between the demands of foreign auditors and the scope of the government to make concessions.

Greek officials have been insisting on including a series...