Reminder of upcoming bailout obligations
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is due to hold his final cabinet meeting on Wednesday but, according to sources, will steer clear of making any references to the upcoming elections after reported comments from the premier?s office relating to the next government?s busy schedule caused controversy.
Reports on two news websites quoted sources close to the prime minister as pointing out that Greece?s loan agreement with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund bind the next government to certain immediate obligations. These include the overhaul of the tax system, the reform of the public procurement process and sweeping changes to the justice system. In total, there are some 70 requirements that have to be completed before the end of June, including the sale of Public Power Corporation lignite units.
Apart from that, whatever government is formed after the May 6 elections will have to agree with the EU and the IMF another 11.5 billion euros of savings for 2013 and 2014.
The fact that reminders about these imminent commitments apparently came from the prime minister?s office was seen by some as an attempt by Papademos to intervene in the election campaign just days before the polls. Government sources however deny that any of the premier?s aides had made such comments.
They added that given the tense atmosphere ahead of Sunday?s vote, Papademos will simply repeat on Wednesday the message he delivered last week, which is that Greece has to strive to remain in the eurozone and the European Union. The Cabinet is also expected to approve the release to Greek banks of 18 billion euros? worth of European Financial Stability Fund bonds that are currently held by the Hellenic Financial Stability Facility. The banks will be able to use these bonds as collateral to secure loans from the European Central Bank.
