Greek debt crisis : Tsipras urges MPs to back bailout plan - live | Business

22:23

Alexis Tsipras begins by admitting that he has made mistakes in the negotiating process.

And he concedes that the offer has many differences from his pre-election promises (indeed!)

We negotiated as long as we could, and are now looking to avert a “political” Grexit. But there are are pitfalls ahead.

22:29

Prime minister Tsipras is arguing that, by backing his austerity plan, Greece can put the threat of Grexit behind it, and start the process of growth and investment.

22:39

Tsipras says he hopes Greece has reached the end of a very difficult battle that has scarred the country’s recent history.

22:58

Greece’s creditors make “positive evaluation”

HEADS-UP. Greece’s lenders have kicked the tires of the new austerity programme, and they’re not unimpressed.

AFP has the story:

Greece’s international creditors believe its latest debt proposals are positive enough to be the basis for a new bailout worth 74 billion euros, an EU source said Friday.

“There has been positive evaluation of the Greek programme,” the source said, with the EU’s bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism ready to consider putting up €58bn plus €16 bn from the International Monetary Fund for a new debt rescue.

That suggests that Saturday’s crucial Eurogroup meeting could pave the way towards a third aid programme, rather than Grexit....

#Grèce #dette