Agora
Posts in Europe
The Greeks deserved better than this
For some time it appeared that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, or at least some of the people advising him, felt Greece had something to gain from being in a take-it-or-leave-it situation with lenders as the pressure would be on the other side. Right now, though, it doesn’t seem such a good position to be in.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Tsipras needs to sign a deal, but which one?
There have been plenty of sensible people advising Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that he has to do a deal with the country’s lenders but few of them until now suggested he should sign the proposal put on the table by the institutions. Therein lies the problem for the SYRIZA leader: The risk of not agreeing with creditors carries so many potential dangers it is hardly worth considering but the option of agreeing to the lenders’ plan also has numerous pitfalls.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Greek pensions laid bare
Greece’s pension system is taking centre stage again in the discussions with lenders. It should come as no surprise that even five years of programmes and repeated interventions have not managed to deal with the monster that was created after decades of mismanagement and a misled belief of entitlement.
Contributors: Manos Giakoumis, Yiannis Mouzakis
Categories: Europe (289), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Greece rides the ghost train
Greece’s negotiations with its lenders over the last few days have been more like a ride on the ghost train than a roller coaster, producing moments of sheer panic punctuated by brief spells that allow the palpitations to subside.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Greece: After a deal, work on a solution
A deal between Greece and its creditors is still likely. But what the country really needs is a Greece-led, cross-party plan to transform its institutions – and less restrictive fiscal policies.
Contributor: Christian Odendahl
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)