Greek MPs back bailout reform plan

[Peace Patriot]

28. "I think Tsipras knows this proposal is DOA...". That would explain a lot.

I watched his response at the EU Parliament emergency meeting, to a blistering speech by the Belgian rep, in which Tsipras denied having a secret plan to leave the euro (or leave the EU). (England still has the pound but belongs to the EU, so Greece could, theoretically, restore the drachma but remain in the EU in other respects--at least I think that's possible--maybe not politically possible, though.) Tsipras gave his word of honor that he had no such secret plan. (He'd been accused of it that day I guess. The Belgian rep didn't accuse him of that, but was blistering about Greece's failure, in his view, to produce a detailed reform proposal. But apparently others had made the accusation.)

It was hard to get a sense of Tsipras because they had to use a translator (and furthermore a woman with a weak and hesitant voice). But I was zoning in on him, to try to get a sense of this man who had apparently defied all the powers of Europe, with his "no" vote huge victory. What I felt, watching and trying to listen to him, was a great uncertainty, as if there were two or three different Tsipras's. His attention seemed a bit scattered. He did not seem very strong in defense of Greece or the Greek people or his government. At first I thought he was gloating--he'd won that vote and this changed the game. Then I thought, no, it's not that--what is it? Is it that he looks not only exhausted but also...afraid? abashed? like a scolded boy? I did not sense strength of character--resolution, firmness--nor any kind of FDR-like confidence (in facing the Great Depression).

Anyway, if what you say is right--that he knows his proposal is DOA, and DID and does have a secret plan to exit the euro and/or the EU, that would explain, a) why Greece's proposal contains the very things that Greek people voted against (he did not see having to implement it), and b) why he seemed so...unclear? irresolute?...at the emergency EU parliament session. He was making a gamble--a very big gamble--and was, indeed, being two-faced about it--as you say, kicking the ball to Germany to turn it down.

I picked up somewhere that the "powers" had, or may, offer a debt forgiveness (20%?) in exchange for the tax and pension reforms that are in Tsipras' proposal. That might be enough of a benefit to Greece to warrant those concessions. But I haven't heard much about that since.

I don't know why the "troika" ("the powers"--the EU bank, Germany and who/what is the third? the IMF?) would turn down this proposal. It seems to give them what they wanted. You're saying that German and other voters are sick of the costs of belonging to a union (--something we're used to, here, i.e., California and New York forever bailing out Mississippi, Alabama, etc.). It seems to me, though, that Merkel, for instance, would be placing quite a lot of weight on a potential political fallout, as opposed to what a Greek exit would mean to the EU. Greece is a strategic territory, and also Merkel has been very committed to holding the EU together.

Well, we're all just guessing, at this point. But I was struck by your remark because of what I'd heard at the EU parliament from Tsipras (no secret plan, upon his honor) and what I sensed about the man (that he was tired, nervous and a gambler).