Samaras: This is the only way for the country

The plans of the prime minister concerning the adoption of the package of measures, agreed upon with the Troika in order for the Eurogroup to decide on the disbursement of the tranche of 31.5 billion euros next Monday, is facing some problems.

Shortly before the submission of the bill yesterday, there was disagreement on the part of Justice minister Antonis Roupakiotis, who refused to put his signature on the text, disagreeing with the changes in the insurance system for lawyers.

The PM contacted Kouvelis and said that if Roupakiotis would not put his signature, he must resign, and stressed the consequences of such an action. Kouvelis intervened and Roupakiotis signed the bill but his party still refuses to vote for it. Thus, today starts the debate in the relevant parliamentary committee that will come to a vote in parliament tomorrow

The government appears confident that the measures will be voted on by all ND members with minor losses from PASOK. The prime minister pointed out in his speech in parliament that this is the only way for the country and that there will be chaos if the measures are not passed. "The problem is not with this or that measure. The problem is what will happen if we do not vote in favor of all the measures," Samaras has said. He confirms that wages and pensions will not be cut again, and that this package of measures will be the last as long as it is implemented and bears the planned results. Speaking at the ND parliamentary group on Monday, Stournaras said that this package will be the last under the condition that the 2013 budget is implemented as well.

The political turmoil of the last two weeks was reflected on our European partners, who will meet on Monday to decide on the disbursement of the tranche. As reported by Reuters yesterday, there are thoughts of the disbursement coming in installments and not as a whole. The government confirms that European partners and officials are watching closely what is going on and want a vote by all three parties, and that the 31.5 billion euros will be disbursed in one installment by November 16.

Otherwise Samaras’ plans will start hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, the prime minister is also claiming the other two installments of 12 billion euros by the end of the year to boost liquidity in the market and create economic recovery together with the amounts from the NSRF.

The government staff estimates that perceptions abroad will become milder after Sunday night with the passing of the budget by all three coalition parties, whose leaders say that DIMAR will continue to support the government. But an unanswered question still remains as to whether Samaras will proceed to a reshuffle, as was also requested by the PASOK president. He certainly wants to avoid political turmoil that will change the decisions of Greece’s international partners.