The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a five-hour meeting with the chiefs of SYRIZA’s Parliamentary Group on Tuesday, which included SYRIZA secretary Tasos Koronakis, SYRIZA’s chief finance officer Alekos Kalyvis and the State Minister Alekos Flampouraris, to discuss the progress of the negotiations and parliamentary activity.
During the meeting it was estimated that the imminent agreement with the creditors will take place in two phases: The current phase, which will soon result in an agreement to recommence funding and a second phase, which will begin in June and will conclude in autumn, which will include an agreement for the debt.
The government will have to reconsider some of the reforms and measures it has proposed, since Greece’s partners appear to object to the VAT reforms. Additionally, the government aims to stand its ground and reject collective redundancies and aims to restore collective negotiations and to gradually increase the minimum wage. It was also reported that the government is negotiating privatization terms.
On Wednesday SYRIZA’s political secretariat has arranged to convene, while the party’s central committee may convene over the weekend.
Government sources clarify “two-phase negotiation”
After it was reported in the press that the Prime Minister spoke of a two-phase negotiation, government sources clarified that PM Tsipras is aiming for a singe agreement and cited the speech he delivered at the recent SEV general meeting. The sources stressed that the agreement will not only address short-term financing needs, but will rather provide a mid- and long-term solution.
Furthermore, the government sources pointed out the government’s four conditions for an agreement, as outlined by PM Tsipras at the SEV general meeting. These are low primary surpluses, no new budget cuts, restructuring the public debt and developing a powerful investment program, with a focus on infrastructure and new technology.
