Greece’s lenders seem calm about Sunday’s result
In contrast to previous election campaigns, Greece’s lenders appear calm about the outcome of Sunday’s vote, with some preferring Alexis Tsipras to resume the role of prime minister.
“There has been no discussion about the elections among the institutions,” a European Union official told Kathimerini. He said that the lenders are unperturbed because the terms of the third bailout leave the next Greek government with little room for maneuver.
Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem made a point of clarifying that there is no room for renegotiation at the eurozone finance ministers’ meeting earlier this month. He said that changing the terms of the bailout was “not possible.”
More recently, European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that “what we need now is implementation,” adding that there would be no doubting the bailout measures “regardless of who is the next government.”
“Interestingly, lots of people would like to see Alexis Tsipras become prime minister,” said a European official, adding that some decision makers are concerned that the SYRIZA leader might turn against the bailout if he returns to the opposition seats in Parliament.
However, there is skepticism in Brussels about proposals for a grand coalition between SYRIZA and New Democracy. Some European officials feel that such an alliance could be too complicated for the Greek political environment and that the decision-making process could be too slow.
