Urgent presentation and vote on the new measures bill

Consultations and intense activity are observed as being underway in the departments of the House and the Finance Ministry as a real race against time in order to submit the multiple bill of law tonight or no later than tomorrow. The gigantic bill will include all the measures which will accompany the new loan agreement and the agreement to slash the debt, as the latter will be discussed on Monday during the Eurogroup meeting. At the same time, as decided on Saturday, the cabinet is to meet under PM Lucas Papademos to inform them of developments.

The focus is on passing the measures before the Eurozone finance ministers convene. Its implementation laws, as was leaked, were to be submitted before the House fifteen days after the voting on Memorandum II. Thus, the pressures from the Eurozone countries, and especially the group of countries with a AAA credit rating for more collateral, affected the decisions of the economic staff.

On Saturday the relevant Parliamentary Committee will meet and on Sunday, or Monday at the latest, the voting in the Parliament plenary will be complete.

On Monday Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ev. Venizelos will travel to the Belgian capital to present the implementation laws to his European colleagues.

Furthermore, after the pressure from countries that maintain the 3A credit rating in Europe and the statements by German Finance Minister Mr. Schauble, a statement in support of Greece by French PM Francois Fillon was made today, which confirms the feeling that exists in government officials that in recent days, along with the block of “skeptical” partners, another block of “supporters” is being formed who are supporting our country in view of the Eurogroup.

Mr. Francois Fillon, speaking on RTL radio on Friday , stated that: “We must do everything possible to avoid a default in Greece, which will be dramatic for Greeks and Europeans alike”. He added that after Memorandum II has been voted by the Greek parliament, “Europeans must honor their obligations. This is the position defended by France”.

Already since yesterday, there has been a climate of optimism about the Eurogroup on the process of the “haircut” and the PSI, based on the feeling that results from the latest contact between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and Chancellor Merkel, the PM of Italy and other officials of the European Union.