Greek government plays up IMF's revised budget projections

Greece on Wednesday welcomed the publication of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) revised projections from last fall with regard to its primary budget surplus in 2017, hoping that this will strengthen its hand in negotiations with international creditors.

At the same time, the Fund's negative predictions with regard to the sustainability of the country's mountainous debt has fueled optimism in the left-led coalition over the prospect for significant restructuring.

Government sources claim that the predictions by the Washington-based organization are closer to the ones made in Athens, which European creditors are in agreement with.

More specifically, the Fund predicts a primary budget surplus of 1.8 percent of GDP for 2017, slightly above the agreed target of 1.75 percent. It also predicted a primary surplus of 3.3 percent for 2016, compared to its previous...

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