France Offers Support for Greece Amid Bailout Tensions

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

PARIS — Feb 1, 2015, 4:15 PM ET
By SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press


France's Socialist government offered support Sunday for Greece's efforts to renegotiate debt for its huge bailout plan, amid renewed fears about Europe's economic stability.

The backing was a victory for Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, striking a more conciliatory tone as he seeks new conditions on debt from creditors who rescued Greece's economy to save the shared euro currency. Worries have mounted that Greece's new far left government might not pay back its debts.

Varoufakis is also visiting London and Rome — and in a sign that his government may be trying to avoid a collision course with key creditors, he said Sunday that he would visit Berlin and Frankfurt as well. The German government has been particularly angry at the new Greek government's position and bluntly rejected suggestions that Greece should be forgiven part of its rescue loans.

Varoufakis insisted that Greece wants to pay the money back, but said he wants new terms and new negotiating partners, arguing that it's not worth discussing with the technocrats from the so-called "troika" of creditors who set the strict terms for Greece's rescue.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/greek-finance-chief-holds-paris-talks-amid-tensions-28641596

[elleng]

1. It's very good to see

that this Greek government is doing a lot to enact it's program ALONG WITH the international community, and not 'in it's face.'

[Dawson Leery]

2. Any meaningful support by France will

only widen the riff between France and German(as well as the corrupt bureaucrats in Brussels.) This is good as Germany and Brussels hold to much power.

[MFrohike]

3. I still don't know what to think of this

The French Socialists have been ruthlessly dedicated to Merkel and the Troika's austerity regime. Their dedication is reflected in their poll numbers and the fact that Marine Le Pen is rapidly becoming a viable presidential candidate. I wouldn't trust these two-faced sons of bitches any further than I could throw them. I suspect this statement was for domestic political purposes and will be followed up with a lot of nothing.