La greek tragedy continues. The meeting of European ministers scheduled for today has been postponed to 20 February (while today there will only be a conference call), a deadline by which the Eurogroup expects more guarantees from Greek political leaders. And just today the heads of the two largest parties in Greece, the socialist George Papandeou and the conservative Antonis Samaras, sent a letter to euro area officials in which they pledged to continue, even after the elections scheduled for April, the austerity measures signed last Sunday. It is one of the last two conditions placed on Greece to obtain the second aid package of 130 billion euros, necessary to avoid default.
The last requirement to complete is the raising of 325 million euros. The caretaker government is working together with Troika officials (EU, ECB and IMF) and should find a solution before the next Eurogroup. According to the Greek Finance Minister, Evangelis Venizelos, RESPONSIVEThere are a few points to solve and “it will be completely clarified in time for the Eurogroup call at 18″.
In the meantime, rumors from the Financial Times declare that Germany, Holland and Finland would prefer Greece to leave the euro. Venizelos also said that "several" eurozone countries "don't want us but we have to convince them that we have to stay in the eurozone".
