The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stressed that Greece is not after any new rescue loans, in an interview he gave to German magazine Stern, which will be published on Thursday.
Mr. Tsipras was followed by the magazine’s authors Andreas Albes, Ferry Batzoglou and Andreas Petzold for a couple days in Athens and documented his optimism. Mr. Tsipras explained that he is in favor of a “win – win” solution that will save Greece from a tragedy and Europe from a dividing split.
Contrary to the belief that Greece is demanding further loans, Mr. Tsipras clarified that what he is demanding in the talks with Europe is more time in order to implement his ambitious reform program. According to the 40-year-old PM, “Greece will be a different country in six months”.
The Stern report notes that should Greece not come to agreement with its creditors by the end of February, when the current bailout program expires, then the country will be faced with the prospect of economic collapse. With an estimated 1.3 million Greeks out of a job and hundreds of thousands without medical coverage, Mr. Tsipras hopes to tackle the humanitarian crisis with a 12-billion-euro program. A compromise with Europe is, therefore, necessary.
Regarding his first meeting with Angela Merkel since the January snap elections, Mr. Tsipras noted that she was a kind person, contrary to media reports which suggest she is strict. The Greek PM praised Mrs. Merkel for her awareness and opined that she will not jeopardize Europe. Mr. Tsipras also expressed his optimism in the upcoming negotiations, pointing out that “our strength is the people’s support”.
