REUTERS
(REUTERS) Greek ministers arrived in Athens on Sunday (June 21) for a full cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to discuss concessions the government may present at an emergency eurozone summit on Monday (June 22).
Greece’s left-wing government promised on Saturday (June 20) to offer concessions to creditors to unlock billions of euros in funds and stave off default.
With its banks hanging on life support from the European Central Bank, and billions of euros being withdrawn daily, Greece may have to impose capital controls within days unless a breakthrough is made at Monday’s summit.
Europe’s leaders have begun to lose patience after months of fruitless wrangling over what budget cuts and reforms Athens is prepared to deliver in exchange.
Bank withdrawals have accelerated and the Greek government revenue has slumped as Athens and international creditors remain deadlocked over an aid-for-reform deal.
People are nervous about what will happen on Monday, though some said they are used to the cliffhangers by now.
“We are in a state of great anxiety about tomorrow. No one knows what our lenders are going to decide and what Prime Minister Tsipras’ concessions will be. There is great uncertainty and no one knows how it’s going to end,” said 70-year-old pensioner Alexandros.
While Greece has resisted demands for pension cuts and some tax rises, its leaders continue to say a deal is possible to release 7.2 billion euros in bailout funds from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.
Asked about the chance of the government making concessions to the eurozone leaders on pensions, 67-year old Nikos Georgousopoulos was in no doubt.
“Well that IS going to happen. I am a pensioner myself and I know it’s going to happen. And I am expecting a really bad situation. Unfortunately, that is the point we have reached… What can you do?” he said.
When asked about possible capital controls, Thodors, a 75-year-old pensioner, said, “If there is no cash going around so people can shop, how is that going to work? Everything will be up in the air after that.”
Some have lost heart and patience with Greece hurtling from crisis to crisis.
“It’s been five years now that they’ve been saying: “tomorrow is critical.” That is what they keep telling us: tomorrow is critical, tomorrow is critical, tomorrow we won’t get paid, next month you won’t get your pension. That is what we keep hearing,” said 76-year-old Philipos Loukopoulos.
“I feel optimistic that at some point this strangulation of the Greek people will come to an end,” he added.
Sunday’s newspapers led with portentous headlines. “A Time of Anxiety and Responsibility” said the left-leaning Kathimerini. The centrist Ethnos led with: “Monday’s Pendulum: Deal or Misadventure” whilst the pro-conservative newspaper Eleftheros Tipos said it was Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras’ future that was at stake: “Zero Hour for Greece and Tsipras”.
Meanwhile, the Syriza party called for a solidarity rally on Sunday night.