Greece put on board the troika – Wedding

Greece put on board the troika – Wedding

Christoph Schmidt – 01/30/15, 21:22

© epa. Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem in a little warm hard pressure with the new Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis.

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem early all week for “clarity” of the new Greek government. Well, that he got yesterday.

• Ignoring agreements is not the right away.

  Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president Eurogroup

We want to make anything, the new Greek government have with the so-called troika and does not intend to extend the current agreements with the lenders of the European Union and the IMF.

That became clear during a lightning visit Dijsselbloem to Athens, where he spoke with the new left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his atypical Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis (53), which is a motorcycle by the Athenian traffic tends to move.

Dijssel Bloem was short trip intended as introductory visit. Indeed exchanged the usual pleasantries for the cameras. But during the press conference and Dijsselbloem Varoufakis – the first in his usual suit and tie, the second in bright blue shirt with black jacket – was the crackling.

The Greek pulled hard from the troika, the Association of European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. Which he called “shaky” and “anti-European”. Varoufakis negotiated rather directly with European governments.

In addition, he called for an international conference on the debt problem, which not only Greece would be discussed. Dijsselbloem freezing replied that such a thing exists. “It’s called the euro group” – the monthly meeting of finance

ministers of the eurozone, which he chairs. “Ignoring chords is not the right way,” he further said.

Finally Varoufakis explained determined why the new government does not feel that a second extension of the ongoing EU lending program, which February 28 expires. Beside him was Dijsselbloem, with the translation in his ear, looking increasingly gloomy.

Then was the Dutchman with a bewildered look on, after some thought the firm grip outstretched hand Varoufakis, and looked him in passing even to whisper something. What exactly was is not known, but the expression of them was to read the polite of phase was over.

Pictures of the awkward handshake flew yesterday about social media. We were witnessing an iconic image that the beginning of the ‘Grexit’ heralds, Greece leaving the eurozone?

What now? Chaos? Grexit?

Inspectors from the ‘troika’ still be considered in Athens the final terms of the Greek loan and hervomingenprogramma, which in recent years 240 billion euro, is to approve. Only then there will be a formal end to the project. The refusal of the new Greek government to talk with the Troika is the beginning of a confusing, chaotic period possible. The program expires on 28 February. If Athens does not request an extension, the Greeks have from 1 March for the first time in five years, no more borrowing ability. Not from the EU institutions, and probably not in the financial markets. That is not immediately critical, but that the months ahead, as Greece has to refinance some 10 billion euros of debt. The new minister of finance Varoufakis goes next week on charm offensive but to the capitals London, Rome and Paris.