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Tsipras tells lenders not to humiliate Greece over debt | Tsipras tells lenders not to humiliate Greece over debt |
(35 minutes later) | |
Greece's prime minister has warned international creditors not to impose humiliating terms on his country as it seeks urgently needed bailout funds. | 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 said negotiations were at a "critical" stage, but that the lenders' proposals were "not realistic". | Alexis Tsipras said negotiations were at a "critical" stage, but that the lenders' proposals were "not realistic". |
He was briefing parliament amid growing opposition in his leftist Syriza party to the creditors' proposals. | He was briefing parliament amid growing opposition in his leftist Syriza party to the creditors' proposals. |
Earlier Greece delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF. | Earlier Greece delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF. |
Mr Tsipras described the EU-IMF lenders' plan as a "bad moment for Europe" and a "bad negotiating trick". | Mr Tsipras described the EU-IMF lenders' plan as a "bad moment for Europe" and a "bad negotiating trick". |
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 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. |
A call for debt relief was a key part of the Greek plan. | A call for debt relief was a key part of the Greek plan. |
'Strangulation' | '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. | 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." | 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 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. | He said his own proposals were the only "realistic" option. |
Many of his own MPs are expected to object to any concessions by Athens. | 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. | 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 repayments | Greece's schedule of repayments |
Special report - Greek debt crisis | Special 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 higher sales tax (VAT) for electricity. | 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. | 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. | "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. | However, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Thursday he saw "no reason whatsoever" for Greece to go to snap elections, according to Reuters. |
Analysis - James Reynolds, BBC News, Athens | |
The Greek prime minister spent half an hour in parliament putting sandbags around his main demand: an end to austerity. | |
Alexis Tsipras said that he was disappointed with the proposals Europe has made this week. | |
The general outline of these proposals seems pretty clear: Greece should make further cuts and reforms. In exchange, it would get the money it needs to keep going. | |
But instead, the prime minister told parliament that his own counter-proposal, which protects salaries and benefits, should be accepted. | |
European capitals will not see it that way. Negotiators don't have all that much time left. | |
If there's no deal by the end of this month, there'll be no more bailout money for Greece. | |
Prime Minister Tsipras is understood to have spoken by phone on Thursday night with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. | Prime Minister Tsipras is understood to have spoken by phone on Thursday night with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. |
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. |
Greece debt talks - main sticking points | Greece debt talks - main sticking points |