/Поглед.инфо/
Greece will forgive debts of up to 20,000 euros to poor people, reported the Athens newspaper “Ethnos”, quoted by “24 Chasa”. However, the conditions for such relief are very strict: the applicant must live in absolute poverty, have no property and no income and have no bank deposits of more than 1,000 euros. In addition, he will have to wait 18 months to check whether his economic situation will not change.
The entire procedure must then go through a district court to determine whether the applicant meets the conditions.
The measure is expected to affect around 35,000 people. Not only debts to banks are subject to forgiveness, but also unpaid taxes and social security contributions and liabilities.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed confidence that the International Monetary Fund will join the third rescue package for Greece and even hinted that she is ready to discuss Greek debt relief to make it a reality.
It was Merkel’s first public comment on the matter after euro zone finance ministers approved the 86 billion euro aid package for Athens.
Observers believe her words were aimed mainly at Bundestag lawmakers from her own ruling party, who are pushing for the chancellor to get the IMF involved in Greece’s bailout. Their support is crucial ahead of Wednesday’s vote, as many lawmakers do not agree with the eurozone package approved as such.
The head of the fund, Christine Lagarde, has repeatedly stated that the IMF ties its participation in aid to Greece with the so-called “trimming” the Greek debt, which, according to her, can never be repaid at this level, and without forgiving a significant part of it, any help is meaningless.
“I have no doubt that what Ms. Lagarde said will become reality,” Merkel said in an interview with CDF TV. A number of German lawmakers said they had not yet decided how they would vote on Wednesday on the Greek bailout issue. Without approval from Germany, the money for Greece will remain blocked.
Greek newspapers write that serious political changes are expected in the country after it receives the first tranche of 26 billion euros or part of it. According to government sources quoted by Etnos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will have meetings with the economic team of his cabinet on Tuesday.
Athens hopes to receive the tranche by August 20, after which the government’s further actions will be determined. According to observers, it is moving towards a vote of confidence in the cabinet and new elections.
Some Greek media claim that one of the conditions for Athens to receive financial support under the third rescue package could be the recognition of Kosovo. Fears that Tsipras will be pressured to recognize Pristina are also heard in Serbia.
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