With the coalition government’s negotiations with the troika slowly reaching a climax, unnamed associates of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras are stressing that the PM will not cave in to the troika’s demands regarding the primary surplus.
One of the troika’s demands has been for the government to greatly limit its promises about distributing 2013’s primary surplus, in order to invest funds in growth programs and cover outstanding debts.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly promised that a significant portion of the surplus would go towards “restoring injustices” caused by the austerity policy enforced by his administration. Among these plans is granting various benefits to uniformed officers and pensioners.
A high-ranking Finance Ministry officer revealed that while the troika has agreed to invest some of the funds from the primary surplus in benefits, the surplus must primarily support growth in the economy.
