BRUSSELS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appealed to parliament to back a tough reform package to try to save Greece from financial collapse, with European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials offering a positive early assessment of the measures.
The creditors are due to give an initial verdict on reform proposals and a request from Athens for billions of euros in new funds within hours. Eurozone partners appeared to be preparing for a deal to keep Greece in the Eurozone.
One Eurozone source, who is familiar with discussions among Eurogroup ministers and has been sceptical of Greece’s ability to carry out a new reform programme, said early on Saturday that it was now “100 per cent sure” that ministers would agree to launch negotiations on a third bailout later in the day.
Speaking in parliament, where many leftists in his own party were stunned by his acceptance of previously spurned austerity measures, Tsipras admitted the proposals were “difficult”, but he urged lawmakers to help Greece stay with the euro.
“We are asked to take difficult decisions, we will stand up to this responsibility, and we will meet it,” Tsipras said in a speech seeking the backing of lawmakers for the package. “We will meet it, not only to stay in Europe, but to stay as an equal partner,” he said.
Experts from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the IMF spent Friday reviewing the Greek case for aid and proposals for Greece’s economic reforms.
