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Greece PM Tsipras faces MPs' anger over debt talks Tsipras tells lenders not to humiliate Greece over debt
(about 1 hour later)
Greece's prime minister is briefing MPs on the progress of the country's debt talks amid growing opposition from within his Syriza party to creditors' proposals for a deal. Greece's prime minister has warned international creditors not to impose humiliating terms on his country as it seeks urgently needed bailout funds.
Alexis Tsipras is speaking in parliament following talks with the EU, the European Central Bank and the IMF. Alexis Tsipras said negotiations were at a "critical" stage, but that the lenders' proposals were "not realistic".
Many of his own MPs are expected to object to Athens making any concessions. He was briefing parliament amid growing opposition in his leftist Syriza party to the creditors' proposals.
Greece has delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF. Earlier Greece delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF.
Instead all four instalments scheduled for June will be combined into a single payment at the end of the month. Mr Tsipras described the EU-IMF lenders' plan as a "bad moment for Europe" and a "bad negotiating trick".
Greek Economy Minister George Stathakis told the BBC that the country's cash-strapped government had the money to make Friday's payment, but chose not to. He accused Greece's lenders of massively backtracking on measures agreed in recent months, and of failing to see the need for an end to austerity in their latest offer.
He said Greece could not accept new austerity measures proposed by international creditors to unlock the final €7.2bn tranche of the country's bailout. A call for debt relief was a key part of the Greek plan.
But he said the government would do anything it could to stay in the eurozone while getting a "better deal" for Greece. 'Strangulation'
The lenders' proposals were put forward when Mr Tsipras met the head of the eurozone's finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this week.
Denouncing their offer on Friday, Mr Tsipras said: "The strangulation of a country is a matter of moral order which conflicts with the founding principles of Europe."
He said the aim of any deal should be "for a solution and not to... humiliate a whole people".
He said his own proposals were the only "realistic" option.
Many of his own MPs are expected to object to any concessions by Athens.
All four scheduled repayments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in June will now be combined into a single payment at the end of the month.
Greece's schedule of repaymentsGreece's schedule of repayments
Special report - Greek debt crisisSpecial report - Greek debt crisis
Robert Peston - How serious is missed IMF payment?Robert Peston - How serious is missed IMF payment?
Mr Tsipras said on Thursday that an agreement with Greece's international creditors was "in sight", particularly on the key sticking point of primary surpluses - the amount by which tax revenues exceed public spending.Mr Tsipras said on Thursday that an agreement with Greece's international creditors was "in sight", particularly on the key sticking point of primary surpluses - the amount by which tax revenues exceed public spending.
But he said there were "points that no-one would consider as a base for discussion" - citing cuts to pensions and a raise in sales tax for electricity - after meeting the head of the eurozone's finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels. But he said there were "points that no-one would consider as a base for discussion" - citing cuts to pensions and higher sales tax (VAT) for electricity.
Underlining a deep sense of anger among Syriza members, Deputy Social Security Minister Dimitris Stratoulis, who is close to Syriza's far-left faction, denounced the measures.
"If [the creditors] do not back down from this package of blackmail, the government ...will have to seek alternative solutions, elections," he told Antenna TV.
However, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Thursday he saw "no reason whatsoever" for Greece to go to snap elections, according to Reuters.
Nervous times awaiting Greece's next move - Katya AdlerNervous times awaiting Greece's next move - Katya Adler
The Greek government's decision not to make the IMF repayment on Friday is being interpreted across Europe as a political statement rather than desperate economic necessity.The Greek government's decision not to make the IMF repayment on Friday is being interpreted across Europe as a political statement rather than desperate economic necessity.
Greek officials familiar with the country's financial situation say it has the money to make the bank transfer and the next IMF payment due in a few days' time.Greek officials familiar with the country's financial situation say it has the money to make the bank transfer and the next IMF payment due in a few days' time.
So the decision to become the first developed country ever to delay a repayment to the IMF is understood as being the latest message of defiance from Greece to its international creditors: "Don't push us too far. We'd rather snap than bend".So the decision to become the first developed country ever to delay a repayment to the IMF is understood as being the latest message of defiance from Greece to its international creditors: "Don't push us too far. We'd rather snap than bend".
And it could yet come to that.And it could yet come to that.
Read more from KatyaRead more from Katya
On his return to Athens Mr Tsipras told ministers that the government could not accept "extreme proposals". Prime Minister Tsipras is understood to have spoken by phone on Thursday night with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
Underlining a deep sense of anger towards the offer, Deputy Social Security Minister Dimitris Stratoulis, who is close to the far-left faction of the ruling Syriza party, denounced the measures.
"If [the creditors] do not back down from this package of blackmail, the government ...will have to seek alternative solutions, elections," he told Antenna TV.
However, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Thursday he saw "no reason whatsoever" for Greece to go to snap elections, according to Reuters.
Greece debt talks - main sticking points
Negotiating tactic
Prime Minister Tsipras, who spoke by phone on Thursday night with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, will address the Greek parliament later on Friday.
He needs to decide soon whether to agree a deal with the creditors. Failure to do so could trigger a Greek default and a potential exit from the eurozone.He needs to decide soon whether to agree a deal with the creditors. Failure to do so could trigger a Greek default and a potential exit from the eurozone.
The government must now pay a total of €1.5bn back to the IMF on 30 June, which is also the day on which its bailout deal with the EU and IMF runs out.The government must now pay a total of €1.5bn back to the IMF on 30 June, which is also the day on which its bailout deal with the EU and IMF runs out.
However, the total this month Greece actually needs to pay in terms of bills is 6.7bn euros. The rest - 5.2bn euros - is short term treasury bills. However, the total this month Greece actually needs to pay in terms of bills is 6.7bn euros. The rest - 5.2bn euros - is short-term treasury bills.
Correspondents says the €300m payment would have been difficult for the Greek government, however the decision to delay it may have been a negotiating tactic intended to put pressure on the IMF and the EU in negotiations over the bailout. Greece debt talks - main sticking points
The last country to bundle together payments to the IMF was Zambia in the mid-1980s.