Die Zeit: Ev. Venizelos asked Asmussen to "fix" the deficit figures

The German «Die Zeit» devotes three whole pages in the trip of the ECB member Jörg Asmussen to Greece, describing in detail all his movements. The "eye" of the reporter was everywhere, commenting on everything. From the fish he ate to the nonexistent soap in the toilets and the few seats.

The article by Mark Ciric and Jana Simon raises many questions when it refers towards the end to Asmussen’s visit to Maximos Mansion and his meeting with Venizelos, where it says that the PASOK chairman asked Asmussen to "fix" the deficit figures.

"During his trip to Athens, Asmussen met with the deputy Prime Minister. Chatted about the budget deficit, but Asmussen almost fell off his chair because he heard the Greek deputy PM asking him if he can change the numbers so the difference with the objectives might appear lower or at a zero level. "Reorganise the figures", he said. For Asmussen, these words are characteristic of the "old Greece." Outdated, inefficient perceptions, which are not understood any longer."

The article states that Samaras disappeared into the interior of Maximos Mansion after meeting with the ECB executive, that the streets of Athens smell of urine and there is no soap in the toilets, like a third-world country.