Schäuble does not exclude default in Greece – Jornal de Negócios – Portugal

On the day that Athens again threatened not to pay the next repayment to the IMF, the German finance minister refused to ensure, as it did in 2012, that the default setting of a country in the euro may not materialize. But he repeated that he believes an agreement between Greece and its creditors before the country runs out of funds.

The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, did not exclude the possibility of Greece fail payments to creditors, as it was today, again, admitted by the Greek Government itself.

Asked if he would repeat the assurance given in 2012 that Greece would not fail to pay creditors on time and hours, the German finance minister replied. “Knowing that there is a tendency to write statements of finance ministers in stone, would have to think long and hard before repeating it in the current circumstances”

Speaking The Wall Street Journal and Les Echos, the minister repeated, however, that he believes an agreement between Greece and its creditors before the country runs out of funds. “There is more progress on the environment than on the substance of the negotiations. (…) But we are there. The negotiations between Greece and the three institutions have always been difficult but always resulted in the past.”

On the possibility of a third rescue, the minister responded with the promise that comes from the Eurogroup November 2012. At that time, it was written that “if Greece, once the current program had achieved a primary surplus fulfilled their commitments but continue to have financial needs, reflectiríamos about this possibility. ” “This statement – he added – remains valid, although conditions have become more fragile.” “Greece did not complete the program does not have a primary surplus and says he does not want a third program.”

In an interview with television station ANT1, Nikos Filis, President of the Greek Parliament, warned that the country You have no money to make the repayment to the IMF on June 5. As wages and pensions are first if there is no agreement, the creditors “do not receive any money.”

“Now is the time to advance the negotiations. It is the moment of truth, the June 5″ warned Nikos Filis.

The last payment made by Greece to the IMF was May 12, and the 750 million euros were paid through the emergence of a deposit account that Athens, like other countries Member, has the institution led by Lagarde, a clear sign of lack of funds to cover these charges.

The Greek newspaper Ta Nea reported that Alexis Tsipras will present at the European summit, scheduled for 21 May a debt restructuring plan, which will be linked to the growth of the country, says the publication, without revealing where it obtained the information, cited by Bloomberg.