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Greece crisis: PM Tsipras tells creditors to 'get real' Greece crisis: PM Tsipras tells creditors to 'get real'
(about 1 hour later)
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said his government will wait patiently for international creditors to become "realistic", after talks on a debt deal in Brussels failed.Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said his government will wait patiently for international creditors to become "realistic", after talks on a debt deal in Brussels failed.
Mr Tsipras rejected demands for pension cuts, citing his country's dignity.Mr Tsipras rejected demands for pension cuts, citing his country's dignity.
Time is running out for Greece to unlock bailout funds from the EU and IMF and a European Commission spokesman said "significant gaps" remained.Time is running out for Greece to unlock bailout funds from the EU and IMF and a European Commission spokesman said "significant gaps" remained.
One European Commissioner said it was time to plan for an emergency.One European Commissioner said it was time to plan for an emergency.
Guenther Oettinger, who is also a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU, said if negotiations with Greece failed and its government rejected a deal on pension cuts, then on 1 July Greece would have to be considered an "emergency area".Guenther Oettinger, who is also a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU, said if negotiations with Greece failed and its government rejected a deal on pension cuts, then on 1 July Greece would have to be considered an "emergency area".
Without a cash-for-reforms debt deal with the EU and IMF, Greece is expected to default on a €1.5bn (£1.1; $1.7bn) debt repayment to the IMF due by the end of the month. Without a cash-for-reforms debt deal with the EU and IMF, Greece is expected to default on a €1.5bn (£1.1bn; $1.7bn) debt repayment to the IMF due by the end of the month.
The Athens government's bailout deal with the EU also runs out on 30 June and Mr Tsipras has been trying to unlock the final €7.2bn instalment.The Athens government's bailout deal with the EU also runs out on 30 June and Mr Tsipras has been trying to unlock the final €7.2bn instalment.
Speaking to Greek newspaper Ton Syntakton, Mr Tsipras warned that "further cuts to pensions after five years of looting under the bailouts can only be viewed as serving political expediency".Speaking to Greek newspaper Ton Syntakton, Mr Tsipras warned that "further cuts to pensions after five years of looting under the bailouts can only be viewed as serving political expediency".
"We will patiently wait until creditors turn to realism. We have no right to bury the European democracy in the land where it was born.""We will patiently wait until creditors turn to realism. We have no right to bury the European democracy in the land where it was born."
What next for Greece?What next for Greece?
TimelineTimeline
How close is Greece to Grexit?How close is Greece to Grexit?
Greece special reportGreece special report
Germany loses patience - by Jenny Hill, BBC News BerlinGermany loses patience - by Jenny Hill, BBC News Berlin
"The Greek government is playing with fire," said Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, warning time and patience were running out. The prevailing mood is one of irritation as the need to find a solution grows more urgent. Volker Kauder - a close ally of Chancellor Merkel and the parliamentary leader of her conservative party - told German TV that Greece had to "get back to reality"."The Greek government is playing with fire," said Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, warning time and patience were running out. The prevailing mood is one of irritation as the need to find a solution grows more urgent. Volker Kauder - a close ally of Chancellor Merkel and the parliamentary leader of her conservative party - told German TV that Greece had to "get back to reality".
Greek Finance Minister Yannis Varoufakis, in an interview with tabloid newspaper Bild, ruled out a Grexit but took the opportunity to reiterate demands for Greek debt to be restructured and for emergency talks led by Angela Merkel.Greek Finance Minister Yannis Varoufakis, in an interview with tabloid newspaper Bild, ruled out a Grexit but took the opportunity to reiterate demands for Greek debt to be restructured and for emergency talks led by Angela Merkel.
Perhaps that's no surprise. The chancellor has made it clear she wants to keep Greece in the eurozone. "Where there's a will there's a way," she says, in a phrase she has also used for Britain's renegotiation of its EU relationship. But she has reportedly acknowledged the possibility of a Grexit and is under pressure domestically on Greece. One conservative colleague, Wolfgang Bosbach, has threatened to resign rather than support another bailout deal.Perhaps that's no surprise. The chancellor has made it clear she wants to keep Greece in the eurozone. "Where there's a will there's a way," she says, in a phrase she has also used for Britain's renegotiation of its EU relationship. But she has reportedly acknowledged the possibility of a Grexit and is under pressure domestically on Greece. One conservative colleague, Wolfgang Bosbach, has threatened to resign rather than support another bailout deal.
Pension wranglePension wrangle
Europe wants Greece to make spending cuts worth €2bn (£1.44bn), to secure the final bailout funds.Europe wants Greece to make spending cuts worth €2bn (£1.44bn), to secure the final bailout funds.
IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard, in a blog post, explained that Greece needed to cut pension expenditure - which already accounted for more than 16% of GDP - by 1% of GDP. He also argued it could be done while protecting the poorest pensioners.IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard, in a blog post, explained that Greece needed to cut pension expenditure - which already accounted for more than 16% of GDP - by 1% of GDP. He also argued it could be done while protecting the poorest pensioners.
"Just as there is a limit to what Greece can do, there is a limit to how much financing and debt relief official creditors are willing and realistically able to provide given that they have their own taxpayers to consider," he said."Just as there is a limit to what Greece can do, there is a limit to how much financing and debt relief official creditors are willing and realistically able to provide given that they have their own taxpayers to consider," he said.
As pressure on Greece intensified, the Athens stock market fell more than 6%.As pressure on Greece intensified, the Athens stock market fell more than 6%.
CDU figures in Germany lined up to criticise Greece's position, with deputy party leader Volker Bouffier condemning Greek demands as unrealistic and Julia Kloeckner from the party executive accusing Mr Tsipras of overplaying his hand.CDU figures in Germany lined up to criticise Greece's position, with deputy party leader Volker Bouffier condemning Greek demands as unrealistic and Julia Kloeckner from the party executive accusing Mr Tsipras of overplaying his hand.
Even the head of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in Germany's coalition, Sigmar Gabriel, who has been seen as more sympathetic to the Greek position, has warned the Athens government that time is running out. "Everywhere in Europe, the sentiment is growing that enough is enough," he wrote in Bild newspaper.Even the head of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in Germany's coalition, Sigmar Gabriel, who has been seen as more sympathetic to the Greek position, has warned the Athens government that time is running out. "Everywhere in Europe, the sentiment is growing that enough is enough," he wrote in Bild newspaper.
In a further sign of widespread German frustration, the head of the influential IFO Institute for Economic Research, Hans-Werner Sinn, said he believed the Berlin government should refuse further funding for the Greek economy.In a further sign of widespread German frustration, the head of the influential IFO Institute for Economic Research, Hans-Werner Sinn, said he believed the Berlin government should refuse further funding for the Greek economy.
A leading MP in Mr Tsipras's left-wing Syriza party, deputy speaker Alexis Mitropoulos, said if talks failed, the prime minister would have to consider either a referendum or fresh elections.A leading MP in Mr Tsipras's left-wing Syriza party, deputy speaker Alexis Mitropoulos, said if talks failed, the prime minister would have to consider either a referendum or fresh elections.
Mr Tsipras's Syriza-led coalition swept to power in late January, with an anti-austerity mandate.Mr Tsipras's Syriza-led coalition swept to power in late January, with an anti-austerity mandate.