Troika: Samaras had a positive start and is on the right track

Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras and his team have made a positive start and " have handled the political situation quite well," a source close to the Troika told Reuters.

He has shifted the political agenda away from the populist promises of his campaign, continues the story of the German news agency, and the prime minister seems determined to pass a package of tough austerity measures that include cuts in wages and reduction in the number of civil servants, positively surprising many EU officials and the IMF. The same officials were outraged when nine months before Samaras had refused to sign the austerity measures they demanded in return for the bailout.

Antonis Samaras must of course convince his other two allies, Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Left and Evangelos Venizelos of PASOK, to put their signature on the package of measures as they have objected to some of his proposals. However, it seems that despite disagreements in recent weeks, the two leaders will agree to the final package.