Internationalist Workers' Left

 Dozens of black-clad protesters clashed with riot police in central Athens on Feb. 26, smashing shop windows, throwing petrol bombs and burning cars after an anti-government march, the first since the leftist Syriza party took power a month ago.
   

Finance minister Yanis Varoufakis laid out his cards on the table in an interview with private Greek TV ANT1. Speaking to veteran presenter George Papadakis, he said that the government had committed itself to increasing VAT but assured that this would not threaten basic goods and services or harm islands that are privy to special tax laws.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is to decide in the next 48 hours whether he will allow Parliament to vote on a four-month extension to Greece?s loan agreement or whether he will bypass the House altogether after signs of dissent within his party.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday referred to a daily "battle" for the next four months, speaking to this ruling SYRIZA party's secretariat.

During an extensive debate on the new loan agreement extension and negotiations between Athens and its creditors, Tsipras reportedly ticked off the government's objectives during negotiations, namely, to:

Opposition lawmakers on Thursday demanded that the new SYRIZA government table a loan extension agreement in Parliament for debate and approval.

Socialist PASOK party on Thursday demanded that Parliament approve a four-month loan extension that Athens requested from eurozone creditors, while at same time launching a stinging attack against ruling SYRIZA.

PASOK charged that the radical leftist government was attempting to bypass democratic procedures and Parliament by not bringing the deal up for approval by MPs.

By Mark Gilbert

It was Greek PM Alexis Tsipras' turn on Wednesday to "preach to the choir" as he took the podium to address his Parliament group on the crucial agreement with eurozone creditors, a development that generated the first spate of internal criticism for the one-month-old SYRIZA government.

"Whoever disagrees with the agreement should say so," Tsipras told the party's MPs.

The Greek government will reportedly unveil a plan to offer a 100-payment scheme to taxpayers owing debts to the state, part of a much-heralded pledge by the leftist SYRIZA when it was in the opposition.

By Mathilde Richter

Gingerly treading between its anti-austerity promises to voters and its pledges to skeptical international creditors, Greece's new radical government is resorting to doublespeak to keep everyone happy, analysts say.