No case of new measures says Maximos Mansion

Feelings at Maximos Mansion are mixed as the satisfaction by the positive outcome of yesterday's meeting of political leaders is overshadowed by difficulties in the negotiations with troika.

Negotiations were interrupted on March 13. Despite the time elapsed the differences between the two sides were not solved. All issues are on the table, hike, layoffs in the public sector, setting the tranches for overdue debts in pension funds and loans, recapitalization of banks and the shortfall in revenue that is estimated to range from 2.7 -3.2 billion for 2013-14. Maximos Mansion’s message is there will be no further measures as neither the Greek society nor the government itself could survive them.

The recapitalization of banks is becoming a key issue due to the objections put forward by the lenders in the merger of the National Bank and Eurobank and their subsequent recapitalization. The position of troika meets intense opposition from the Greek government and part of the banking and business world. Troika representatives are playing their known game of delays which may cause lagging in the disbursement of the loan tranches.

The extension of negotiations and the lenders’ harsh attitude is irritating Maximos Mansion as they are holding back the economic recovery. In his yesterday's speech at the first National Development Conference, PM Samaras spoke about the best possible utilization of the NSRF funds. He tried to allay the concerns caused by Germany’s behavior on the future of the eurozone and stressed that "Europe is our home and we will try to make it better."