"Haircut, restructuring? We are proceeding based on institutional goals"

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos briefed Ministers and MPs today on the results of the Eurogroup and the discussions taking place with the Troika, presenting the members of the House with the schedule of the government’s next moves.

The government awaits the Troika’s final report, in which the updated Memorandum is being outlined. According to a top government official, the Greek side is seeking an institutional solution, a legal and safe one, in order to satisfy markets.

The Greek government is looking forward to a possibility of changing the July 21st agreement, in order for the markets to behave better and so that an answer can be provided to the Greek problem can be provided. When asked to respond on “haircut” scenarios, top government officials stated “we are proceeding based on institutional goals”.

In his presentation, Mr. Venizelos reportedly claimed that there is no strategic plan in Europe, but there are two “blocks”, one with Germany and Holland and another with France, Italy and Spain. At present, stated Mr. Venizelos, Europe is dominated by the Germans.

The deputy PM addressed Opposition MPs, stating that at this time there is talk in Europe of combating debt. “We are walking on the razor’s edge. Either we will be drowned or it will all work out”. Concerning the July 21st agreement, he told MPs that either it will guarantee our rescue or it will even fare better than planned, and added that Greece wants an institutionally guaranteed agreement.

Members Mimis Androulakis, Vasso Papandreou and Nikos Salagiannis stated the need for political initiatives in order to rescue the country. to that, Mr. Venizelos replied “If you mean elections, that would be disastrous”.

Mrs. Papandreou added that a large portion of society is not on the side of the government.

Mr. Kouselas, former deputy minister of Finance, requested a timetable for the recovery of debts from large debtors, leading Mr. Venizelos to wonder what Mr. Kouselas did when he was a deputy minister. Mr. Kouselas in turn replied “I was a deputy minister, not a minister”, stating that it was the reason he left the government.

On his part, Minister of Labour Mr. George Koutroumanis also informed his colleagues and ministers on matters relating to his ministry. Mr. Koutroumanis made it clear that there is no issue of repealing the framework of a national collective agreement, adding that there will be a facilitation of operational contracts.

This means that the framework within which business contracts will prevail over sectoral ones will soon be promoted.

Finally, the government adopted the community service program in which ASEP will also participate.