Euclid Tsakalotos

The government's decision to reverse its anti-bailout memorandum tactics in order to sign the third bailout memorandum is well known.

After adopting an unrealistic stance in negotiations with European partners and other creditors in the first six months of 2015, which nearly brought total disaster upon the country, the first Tsipras government was forced into a disorderly retreat.

As the government finalizes a new package of handouts in the countdown to local and European elections next month, European officials are skeptical about the large primary surpluses from which the benefits are to come, arguing that they are partly due to cuts to the country's public investment program.

The government on Monday submitted its application for the early repayment of a costly section of Greece's loans from the International Monetary Fund, as agreed last month between Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

The government keeps postponing the payment of its overdue arrears to suppliers and taxpayers. A law amendment tabled on Monday in Parliament for an Education Ministry bill defines May 31, 2019 as the new deadline for the completion of the debt repayment process.

As the government seeks to bolster its flagging ratings in an election year, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos is under pressure to formulate a new package of handouts, without upsetting the country's international creditors, Kathimerini understands.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is planning a new package of handouts ready ahead of European Parliament and regional elections in May while his leftist SYRIZA and other parties are vying for the support of some 428,000 new voters who will be going to ballot boxes for the first time. 

The government is reportedly preparing a tax relief package ahead of the general election that is set to cost the state up to 4 billion euros per annum, while industrialists are warning of a likely temporary recession for the economy in the case of an extended pre-election period.

Straight on the heels of Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos' admission of the (unlikely and unwelcome as he said) prospect of a SYRIZA defeat in this year's general election, Deputy PM Yannis Dragasakis alluded to the prospect of a New Democracy victory while addressing opposition MPs in Parliament.

Straight on the heels of Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos' admission of the (unlikely and unwelcome as he said) prospect of a SYRIZA defeat in this year's general election, Deputy PM Yannis Dragasakis alluded to the prospect of a New Democracy victory while addressing opposition MPs in Parliament.

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos met on Friday in Washington with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, to discuss an agreement for the early repayment of part of the Fund's loans to Greece that would allow both sides to claim victory.