All information and estimations, both within and beyond Greece, confirm that the agreement between the government and partners is possible within the set deadline and before the 20th of August.
That was also the belief of the Government Council of Economic Policy, which convened on Wednesday afternoon under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
However there are still looming threats and those who are looking for an opportunity to trip us up. It is a common secret that the hardliners amongst the institutions insist on arguing about credibility and trust, disputing the government’s ability to implement any agreement, by citing the Left Platform’s negative stance and the many clashes taking place within the governing party.
It is no coincidence that the agreement will be split up and each loan payment will be accompanied by prior actions. Without the implementation and review of these actions on a regular basis no fund will be paid out to Greece.
It is also true that the regular references of government officials to the possibility of elections being called are problematic.
With the country in a state of emergency and the recapitalization of the banks still pending, any talk of a new electoral race reasonably causes concern.
The government must decide. The possibility of the new elections must be taken off the table, until the banks are recapitalized, the deposits secured and of course, the capital controls reduced.
The national interest demands dedication, attentions and avoiding risky moves, capable of bringing back to the table the undesirable prospect of a Grexit.
Everything else will follow. We assume after all, the lessons have been learned…
TO VIMA