Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is in a rush to have the new packet of measures voted in Parliament by August 15. The Government of Greece is hoping it will reach an agreement by tomorrow about the final text regarding the measures and obligations between Athens and Brussels of the new loan that the country needs to take. Tsipras plans to bring the new agreement to the National Parliament by Wednesday so that it is given green light by the following day, August 13.
With this move Tsipras is setting a precedent because the week on or around August 15 is usually used for vacation by the members of the Greek Parliament and by politicians. The Orthodox holiday Mother of God falls on this week and is considered one of the most important in Greece. According to information, Tsipras has given an order to all ministers and MP’s to be prepared and be in Athens to vote the agreement by the end of the week.
From the Greek Government they comment that the negotiations are going on positively and without problems. In the course of tomorrow, Finance Minister Evklidis Tsakalotos along with representatives of the “troika” will need to iron out the last details of the agreement regarding non-returnable taxes, the new privatization Fund, as well as matters related to worker’s rights and energy problems. The final agreement, that needs to be passed by Parliament, will include two clauses- one is about the loan agreement with the European safety mechanism, estimated at 52 billion euro and the second clause about the necessary measures for paying the first rate of the loan worth 25 billion euro.
Rumors circulating in Athens say that by rushing MP’s for a quick vote, Tsipras is preparing for snap elections in September or November.
M. P.
