OPINION

Silencing the grapevine

Negotiations with the troika are being conducted in a very different way in Greece than they are with other countries that have signed loan agreements.

In other countries, the governments prepare well in advance for programmed visits by inspectors and negotiations are mainly carried with the finance ministry, and only when necessary with the prime minister.

In Greece’s case, the inspectors meet with each ministry separately on points that fall within their jurisdiction, and then ministry officials leak information to the press regarding the talks that is often completely groundless.

The barrage of leaks regarding the ongoing talks and the absence of a centralized and coordinated information system have been very harmful.

Perhaps the two sides need to go back to holding scheduled press briefings in which they can clearly express their positions on important issues and jointly announce what, if anything, has been decided. This would certainly make things clearer in regard to what the troika is asking for and what the government wants.

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