Greece will not request third bailout

Greece will not request a third bailout once the new bridge deal with international creditors reached last week expires in June, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told a cabinet meeting on Friday.

"I am sorry but we will disappoint those who have bet on a third bailout. They should forget about it. Memorandums ended with the elections of January 25," Tsipras responded to scenarios of a new bailout.

On February 20, Greece agreed with euro group to a four month extension to the four-year bailout which expires on February 28.

Tsipras said on Friday that Athens would seek a new reduction of its debt load to make it sustainable. He stressed that on its part the new government proceeds quickly to the implementation of reforms.

Next week the Left-led government coalition will table to parliament the first draft bills aimed to tackle the humanitarian crisis and address the problem of overdue debts to the tax office and pension funds.

The government will also submit draft bills for combating tax evasion and reopening the former national broadcaster ERT, which was closed down by the previous administration.

The announcements were made as the first major demonstration against the February 20 agreement was taking place in front of the parliament in central Athens. It was organized by the Greek Communist party KKE.

Addressing the crowd under the rain, KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas argued that the new government leads Greece to a new painful bailout which will have a "heavy cost" for Greek people.
  china.org.cn - Xinhua
28/2/15
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Related:

• Bundestag backs Greek extension. (It was the biggest majority for a eurozone bailout)

• Eurozone approves Greek bailout extension. (The 19-nation Eurogroup urged Greece to develop and broaden the list of reform measures)

• ECB prepares for Greece’s exit from euro (Der Spiegel)

• ‘Grexit?’ Easier said than done