Syriza

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke with Andrea Nicastro in an interview that appears in Italian daily Corriere Della Sera, titled “Agreement in Sight but No to Benefit Cuts”.  Ahead of his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday he outlined his expectations.

The Greek Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government is working towards convergence with its international creditors from the European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). So far, Greece’s lenders have yet to open their canisters and offer Greece the 7.2 bln euros benchmarked for the country since last year.

Two percent fewer respondents said they would vote for ruling SYRIZA in the event of general elections compared to mid-May, a public opinion poll conducted by University of Macedonia for Skai has revealed, with the leftist party polling at 34.5 percent compared to 36.5 percent less than a month earlier.

Ruling SYRIZA party’s far-left wing and “internal opposition” reared its head on Monday evening through a high-pitched article on an affiliated website, charging, among others, that the country’s creditors demand “Greece’s unconditional surrender within the next two days.”

By Chryssa Liaggou

Production Reconstruction and Energy Minister Panayiotis Lafazanis accused on Monday the European Commission of the selective application of European legislation regarding projects for the diversification of energy sources, suppliers and routes.

Last week’s defiant words from the leftist SYRIZA government gave way to a more diplomatic mood on Monday, as Greek leadership tried to “mend fences” with European partners.
The developments came as G7 host Angela Merkel warned that time was running out to free-up cash left over in a second bailout package and avoid any risk of a Greek default.

A high-level Greek delegation has traveled to Brussels in the hope of finding common ground between Athens and its lenders before Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande in Belgium on Wednesday.

Negotiations are continuing in Brussels on Monday, says Government Spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis. A Greek delegation headed by Greek State Minister Nikos Pappas and Alt. Foreign Minister for International Economic Affairs Euclid Tsakalotos are in Brussels for meetings. The goal is to bring convergence between the Greek government and the country’s creditors.

The SYRIZA government was quick to issue a response to the barbs unleashed by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Saturday, responding in “non-paper” fashion with general six points, while claiming there is no deadline in negotiations with creditors.

One of Athens’ more supportive international partners apparently turned more sour over the weekend, with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Sunday charging that Greek PM Alexis Tsipras of misrepresented a cash-for-reforms plan formulated by international creditors and handed to Greece’s radical leftists last week.