A dangerous game

The message sent on Wednesday by Eurogroup President Mario Centeno to Greece regarding what its strategy should be once it emerges from its third international bailout on August 20 could not have been clearer: Reforms must continue, even in the post-bailout era. 

The message takes on greater significance, however, in view of all the talk about possible handouts that the government has already slipped into. 

Promising handouts is a dangerous game which will not only turn out to the detriment of the government but also of Greek citizens who have been forced to make great sacrifices over the course of the country’s financial crisis. 

One would have thought that the government had learned from the example of the discounted value-added tax for the islands – which authorities extended in contravention of an agreement with the country’s creditors. 

Unfortunately, that is clearly not the case.