The Minister of Finances Yannis Stournaras gave an interview to Vima 99.5, where he revealed that there is “no rush” for Greece to return to the markets, since the country’s funding needs are covered for the next twelve months; should there not be any dramatic changes, there should not be a problem for 2015-2016. The Minister noted that the planned return to the markets over summer will depend on the circumstances at the time.
Regarding the viability of the debt, Mr. Stournaras cited the Eurogroup decision from November 2012, according to which Greece’s partners will take the necessary measures, should there be a primary surplus. Mr. Stournaras expects to initiate a discussion regarding Greek debt over the next couple Eurogroup sessions.
Despite his optimism though, the Minister insisted that there is “a long way to go and many targets to meet” and revealed that there have been significant developments in tackling the ever-present problem of tax evasion. According to Mr. Stournaras the government exceeded revenue from tackling tax evasion by 3%.
The Minister then remarked that part of the much-touted primary surplus, which is meant to support the more vulnerable sections of society, may be distributed by the 9th of May, in time for the local government and European elections. When asked when all the “good news” will turn into relief for the average citizen, Mr. Stournaras avoided giving a direct answer, instead opting to focus on the government’s overall efforts.
On a more personal level, Mr. Stournaras claimed that he is not bitter by the criticism against him, as he does not believe that there were any other viable options, other than following the current policies. He also avoided clarifying what his next personal move might be.
