Greek deal prompts calls to renegotiate bailout


Political parties and government officials on Saturday greeted the previous day’s Eurogroup agreement with Greece with relief, with some demanding of the president go ahead and renegotiate Cyprus’ bailout terms.

Finance minister Harris Georgiades took to Twitter to express his opinion on the matter. With a late night tweet Georgiades said the Greek deal was a very positive development.

“Greece remains in the Eurozone and on the path to reform,” tweeted the minister.

Ruling party DISY issued a statement welcoming the agreement saying that the deal struck has a twofold meaning.

“On the one hand it ensures that Greece keeps the effort of restoring its economy within the boundaries of the Eurozone and in cooperation with the rest of Europe. On the other hand, the agreement proves that with goodwill and responsibility we can deal with our problems through the EU institutions,” it said.

Main opposition party AKEL, which has criticised the government, accusing president Nicos Anastasiades of accepting the troika terms without putting up a fight, said the deal proves that every government can gain something for the people if it is willing to negotiate.

“Our government conceded to the bail-in and selling off the Greek branches of our banks, accepted damaging privatisations and number of other needless measures. He did not fight on behalf of the Cypriot people but instead succumbed to pressure,” AKEL said.

The rest of the parliament parties also railed against the government. DIKO said the Greek deal “proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that the problem is the government doesn’t want to re-negotiate with the troika,”. Socialist party EDEK demanded the government renegotiate the privatisation of semi-govermental organisations, reconsider foreclosures and ask the European Central Bank for better lending terms.

EVROKO, the Citizens’ Alliance and the Greens also called upon the government to renegotiate the terms of the Cyprus agreement, the way Greece did.

Euro zone finance ministers reached an agreement on Friday to extend Greece’s financial rescue by four months. The agreement removes the immediate risk of Greece running out of money next month and possibly being forced out of the Euro.

Cyprus agreed with the troika of international lenders – the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – a €10 billion bailout in 2013.

By Constantinos Psillides

 

 

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