Rumblings of discontent from SYRIZA at Greek proposal

There were signs of discontent Tuesday within the government about the proposals put forward by Athens to secure an agreement with its lenders, although most ministers and coalition MPs refrained from voicing an opinion before they see the final details of the deal.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Alexis Mitropoulos was at the forefront of the skeptical voices within the party, even suggesting that the agreement would not be able to pass through Parliament.

But Labor Minister Panos Skourletis accused the SYRIZA MP of rushing to make a judgment. The minister seemed confident that coalition lawmakers would support the deal.

State Minister Nikos Pappas expressed certainty that the agreement would be approved. “I assure you that the deal will be such that it will win the backing of the government majority and of the Greek people,” Pappas told Mega TV.

It is expected that any deal will have to be voted on by deputies by Monday at the latest, allowing enough time for parliaments in other eurozone countries to also vote before the end of the month, when Greece has to pay nearly 1.6 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund.

There is also a question about what stance coalition partner Independent Greeks will take. The party’s leader, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, said Tuesday that his MPs would not support the agreement if it includes the scrapping of a value-added tax discount for Aegean islands.