Friday, May 27, 2011

Greek Leaders Fail to Forge Deal

Wall Street Journal
May 27, 2011

Talks between Prime Minister George Papandreou and opposition party leaders over Greece's financial crisis failed to find common ground Friday, potentially imperiling a fresh European aid package for the country.

The talks, called by the country's president at the behest of the prime minister, come after European officials exerted increasing pressure on Greek political leaders to forge a united front to deal with the country's problems.

But following the emergency meeting, New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras rejected the government's latest austerity and reform plan. Instead, he reiterated demands that Greece renegotiate the terms of a loan memorandum signed last year to save the country from default.

"The only thing that is worth discussing is how we can renegotiate the terms of the memorandum," Mr. Samaras said after the three-and-a-half-hour meeting. "We will not presign a policy that flattens the economy and destroys society."

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