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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-23Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Tsipras meets party leaders to discuss changes to constitution, election law"We are striving for changes to the election law and Constitution that are based on the broadest possible consensus," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras posted in his Twitter account on Thursday, as he continued a round of meetings with opposition party leaders to sound out their views. The prime minister received PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata at 16:00, his second meeting in the day after his meeting with Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas at noon.In a brief exchange before the cameras as Tsipras met Koutsoumbas outside the Maximos Mansion, the KKE leader noted that their discussion should be about the huge problems faced by the people, especially with taxation, rather than such issues. Replying, Tsipras noted that a discussion had begun some time ago about changes to the election system and Constitution for which the time was ripe "but all these demand dialogue, without surprises, and also consensus, wherever this can exist, and this is not always easy." Koutsoumbas noted that "there has to be a basis for consensus" and that there was no indication at present that this was the case, with Tsipras replying "We'll try it and see." The next party leader scheduled to meet with the prime minister is main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis at 18:00. Meetings have been scheduled on Friday with Centrists' Union leader Vasilis Leventis and Potami party leader Stavros Theodorakis. The government's aim is to pass changes in the election law some time before the next elections and a majority of at least two thirds. [02] Central bank slashes ELA ceiling for Greek banks, citing return of depositsThe Bank of Greece on Thursday announced a drastic reduction in the Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) ceiling for Greek banks by 7.0 billion euros over the next two weeks, saying that this was in part due to returning deposits rather than the ECB's decision to reinstate a waiver for Greek bonds.According to the central bank announcement, the Governing Council of the ECB did not object to its request an ELA-ceiling for Greek banks of 65.0 billion euros (down from 68 billion euros), up to and including next Wednesday and to a further lowered ELA-ceiling for Greek banks of 61.1 billion euros from June 30 to July 2016 6. "The overall reduction of 7.0 billion euros in the ceiling reflects an improvement of the liquidity situation of Greek banks, amid a reduction of uncertainty and the stabilisation of private sector deposits flows, the progress achieved in the restructuring of Greek banks, as well as the impact of the reinstatement of the waiver," the bank said. The first 3.0 billion euros in the ELA reduction is not a result of the reinstatement of the waiver, which comes into effect from June 29. The waiver allows the ECB to make an exception and accept Greek state bonds as collateral in order to lend to Greek banks at cheaper rates. According to sources, it reflects a return of some 2.0-2.5 billion euros in deposits since early May and the first 10 days of June, significantly reducing the dependence of Greek banks on liquidity provided by the eurosystem (ECB and ELA). The second reduction from the following week factors in the effects of reinstating the waiver. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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