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Greek exit would trigger eurozone collapse, says Alexis Tsipras Greek exit would trigger eurozone collapse, says Alexis Tsipras
(about 7 hours later)
Alexis Tsipras warned on Tuesday that the failure to agree a rescue deal for Greece would spell the end of the eurozone as he submitted a revised package of reforms to negotiators in Brussels. Alexis Tsipras has warned that the failure to agree a rescue deal for Greece would spell the end of the eurozone as he submitted a revised package of reforms to negotiators in Brussels.
The Greek prime minister said if Greece fails, Europe’s leaders will have a bigger disaster on their hands because “it will be the beginning of the end of the eurozone”.The Greek prime minister said if Greece fails, Europe’s leaders will have a bigger disaster on their hands because “it will be the beginning of the end of the eurozone”.
Tsipras was speaking after what appeared to be a co-ordinated move by world leaders at the G7 summit to caution Athens against resisting demands by its troika of creditors – the European commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank – for further austerity and far-reaching reforms. As talks with creditors in Brussels continued over Greece’s proposed reforms in exchange for bailout funds, Tsipras was also forced to make a fresh appeal in Athens for his own Syriza party to back him.
His warning on the fate of the eurozone came after what appeared to be a co-ordinated move by world leaders at the G7 summit to caution Athens against resisting demands by its troika of creditors – the European commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank – for further austerity and far-reaching reforms.
Related: Greece submits new reform plan amid talk of bailout extension - live updatesRelated: Greece submits new reform plan amid talk of bailout extension - live updates
The US president, Barack Obama, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said the Greek people should accept the need for painful reforms to put the country on a sound financial footing. The French president, Françcois Hollande, said that if the gap between both sides was unbridgeable and Greece left the eurozone, the currency bloc had sufficient funds to cushion the blow. The US president, Barack Obama, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said the Greek people should accept the need for painful reforms to put the country on a sound financial footing. The French president, François Hollande, said that if the gap between both sides was unbridgeable and Greece left the eurozone, the currency bloc had sufficient funds to cushion the blow.
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere Della Sera, Tsipras said the suggestion that a Grexit would be easily manageable was flawed. Instead, he argued, it would trigger the unravelling of the whole European project.In an interview with Italy’s Corriere Della Sera, Tsipras said the suggestion that a Grexit would be easily manageable was flawed. Instead, he argued, it would trigger the unravelling of the whole European project.
“I think it’s obvious. It would be the beginning of the end of the eurozone.“I think it’s obvious. It would be the beginning of the end of the eurozone.
“If the European political leadership cannot handle a problem like that of Greece, which accounts for 2% of its economy, what would the reaction of the markets be to countries facing much larger problems, such as Spain or Italy which has €2tn of public debt?“If the European political leadership cannot handle a problem like that of Greece, which accounts for 2% of its economy, what would the reaction of the markets be to countries facing much larger problems, such as Spain or Italy which has €2tn of public debt?
He has also argued that a deal between Greece and her creditors could be close. He argued that a deal between Greece and her creditors could be close and pledged to discuss recent progress with Merkel and Hollande at the EU-Latin America summit on Wednesday.
“However, that would require the IMF, ECB and EC to relax their demands on pension reforms, and other proposals which would push Greece deeper into recession. But EU officials did little to hide their frustration at what they see as Greece’s lack of compromise in the reform negotiations.
“I think we’re very close to an agreement on the primary surplus for the next few years ... There just needs to be a positive attitude on alternative proposals to cuts to pensions or the imposition of recessionary measures.” “We will do everything to keep Greece in the eurozone ... but our patience is running out,” said Finnish finance minister Alexander Stubb.
Tsipras also pledged to discuss recent progress with Merkel and Hollande at the EU-Latin America summit on Wednesday. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, did not share Greece’s optimism over a deal being within grasp.
EU officials said a revised seven-page plan, delivered in two parts, had been received in Brussels ahead of further talks, but that it was insufficient as the basis for renewed talks, without giving details of any new concessions by the radical leftist Syriza-led government in Athens. “I’ve heard a lot of optimism from the Greek side, and it’s an underestimation of the complexity of what’s being asked of them,” Dijsselbloem told the Dutch RTL Nieuws TV station.
Officials said a revised seven-page plan – the previous plan ran to 47 pages – had been received in Brussels, but that it was insufficient as the basis for renewed talks, without giving details of any new concessions by the radical leftist Syriza-led government in Athens.
“What has been submitted is not sufficient and not acceptable to member states to move the process forward,” one official told Reuters.“What has been submitted is not sufficient and not acceptable to member states to move the process forward,” one official told Reuters.
It is understood the proposals include higher VAT rates on some products to bring the Greek budget surplus closer to the 1% troika demand for 2015. However, Tsipras has resisted calls for a rapid rise in the effective retirement age, restricting early retirement applications by hundreds of thousands of Greeks.It is understood the proposals include higher VAT rates on some products to bring the Greek budget surplus closer to the 1% troika demand for 2015. However, Tsipras has resisted calls for a rapid rise in the effective retirement age, restricting early retirement applications by hundreds of thousands of Greeks.
Officials close to the bailout talks said a previous plan was being considered that extended the current rescue programme through to March 2016, when the IMF’s participation in Greece’s bailout officially expires.Officials close to the bailout talks said a previous plan was being considered that extended the current rescue programme through to March 2016, when the IMF’s participation in Greece’s bailout officially expires.
Dusting off proposals for an extension would allow Athens to prepare for what everyone is now calling the “big agreement” – a third bailout of between €40bn to €50bn that Athens undoubtedly needs to survivein the coming years.Dusting off proposals for an extension would allow Athens to prepare for what everyone is now calling the “big agreement” – a third bailout of between €40bn to €50bn that Athens undoubtedly needs to survivein the coming years.
The idea of an extension was floated at the highest level of German policymaking several months ago, according to Greek insiders.The idea of an extension was floated at the highest level of German policymaking several months ago, according to Greek insiders.
Sources said delays in the current talks meant there was not enough time to agree a credible deal that will stick.Sources said delays in the current talks meant there was not enough time to agree a credible deal that will stick.
“After the summer we don’t have any big [debt] payments until March 2016, which in effect would be crunch time,” said one well-placed source who requested anonymity simply because speculation is now running so high.“After the summer we don’t have any big [debt] payments until March 2016, which in effect would be crunch time,” said one well-placed source who requested anonymity simply because speculation is now running so high.
“That would be the time that the government would have to come to a big agreement.”“That would be the time that the government would have to come to a big agreement.”
An extension would buy Tsipras time – and some wiggle room to deal with his Syriza party’s hard-left faction. Even if a “short-term” deal is eventually clinched, as it is expected to be in the coming days, the anti-austerity government will face enormous difficulties.An extension would buy Tsipras time – and some wiggle room to deal with his Syriza party’s hard-left faction. Even if a “short-term” deal is eventually clinched, as it is expected to be in the coming days, the anti-austerity government will face enormous difficulties.
Officials said any agreement will need to be approved by the governing party, passed by the 300-seat parliament and then implemented. The Greek prime minister used a meeting of Syriza’s political committee to call for unity on Tuesday.
“It would be impossible to enforce with the current cabinet,” Andreas Papadopoulos, a former spokesman with the small Democratic Left party, told state-run TV. “Alexis Tsipras believes we are now at the most crucial point of the negotiations and the party must play a substantial role in supporting the government in this effort,” a government official said after the meeting.
“Tsipras would need to change his cabinet make-up,” he said, insisting that disagreement on an ideological basis was so profound that many of the reforms could never pass.
The Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, said a deal would have to be a permanent deal: “The Greek government wants an agreement-solution. It wants this to be the last negotiation. The Greek people deserve it.”The Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, said a deal would have to be a permanent deal: “The Greek government wants an agreement-solution. It wants this to be the last negotiation. The Greek people deserve it.”