Could bank deals be the life jacket of this government?

The positive developments in the banking sector, triggered by the Alpha-Eurobank merger agreement, will be the flag of the government for at least the next week, and will also emerge strongly in view of the PM’s visit at the TIF. The government hopes that in the next ten days until Papandreou’s presentation at the inauguration of the exhibition, the overall political and economic climate will change, though such hopes are not entertained for the social one. According to government officials, all this will happen under the condition that the recent merger will be followed by others, and that Athens will pass the ongoing test of the Troika, which is evaluating the implementation of the mid-term and does not see things exactly rosy.

Papandreou is having successive meetings today with productive players in preparation for his visit to the TIF, while tomorrow he is planning a cabinet meeting, with the most important topic on the agenda being the bill on referendums.

At 12 noon at Maximos Mansion he will receive the presidents of the Economic and Social Committee of Greece (OKE), the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the Supreme Tribunal of Unions of Public Servants (ADEDY), the General Confederation of Professional Craftsmen and Tradesmen (GSEBEE), the Federation of Enterprises (SEB), the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE), the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE), the Central Union of Chambers (KEE), the Association of IT Companies of Greece (SEPE), the Panhellenic Confederation of Unions of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES) and the Union of Greek Banks (EET).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as well as the ministers of Administrative Reform, Interior, Development, Environment, Education, Infrastructure, Labour, Rural Development, Culture and State, will all be present at the meeting.