The Eurogroup has received the first evaluation of the institutions of the former Troika of the measures proposed by Greece. The spokesman for the president of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem made it known on Twitter and reported by Ansa. The examination was carried out on the basis of article 13 of the ESM treaty, the bailout fund to which Athens has applied for a three-year aid programme. The finance ministers of the eurozone, who meet today, Saturday, at 15 pm, will discuss whether to give their green light on the basis of this assessment. Again according to the assessment of the institutions of the former Troika - reports the Frankfurt Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (Fas) - the 13 billion proposals presented by Athens constitute "a basis for negotiation" but "additional measures" will be needed to meet budgetary targets and more reforms. At this moment, according to reports circulating on Twitter, a preliminary meeting is underway between Greek Finance Minister Tsakalotos and his Greek colleague Sapin.
In the night between Friday and Saturday, at 2.29 to be exact, the greek parliament voted in favor of the creditor settlement plan proposed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. "Now the government has a strong mandate to deal with creditors," said the Greek premier at the end of the vote. Shortly before, according to Corriere della Sera (at 00.47 from Brussels) the troika approved the latest proposal presented by Athens, considering it good enough to be the basis for a new loan of 74 billion, of which 58 from ESM and 16 from IMF. With this yes the document now switch toEurogroup meeting today for political approval.
The parliamentary vote in Athens was full of twists and turns. With some conspicuous defections from members of Syriza, Prime Minister Tsipras' far-left party, Parliament said yes to the 13,5 billion euro plan of reforms and cuts over two years (3,5 more than what was requested by the creditors before last Sunday's referendum).
However, the Tsipras package passed with a very large majority, much larger than the one the government counts on: 251 yes out of 300 deputies, 32 no (including two members of Syriza) and 8 abstentions. Among these, the 90 pieces of the premier's party, starting with the president of Parliament, Zoe Constantopoulou and the energy minister and leader of the left wing of the party, Panagiotis Lafazanis. Both limited themselves to replying "present" at the time of voting, thus expressing neither for nor against.
The Greek Parliament approved a motion which allows government reform proposals to be used as a basis for negotiations.
