Leaked ruling on pension law could harm fund

A leaked decision by the Council of State contesting several key provisions of reforms to the country's pension system legislated by the leftist-led government, if finalized, could deal a huge blow to the umbrella social security fund (EFKA), throw the national budget off balance and strain ties with the country's creditors as Greece prepares to exit its third international bailout. 

According to Proto Thema newspaper, the country's highest administrative court voted Tuesday by 17 votes to 8 that a series of provisions in the pension law - including the induction to EFKA of hundreds of thousands of self-employed professionals and farmers, and changes to the way that workers' social security contributions are calculated - violate the Greek Constitution. 

Officials at the Labor Ministry would not comment on the leak on Tuesday. However, sources indicated that officials...