While the market is finally figuring out what was obvious about 12 hours ago, that even if, and that is a big IF because Pasok has made it clear it will not join ND outright, there is some coalition government formed it will most likely last all of a few weeks before the whole charade has to be repeated once more as the entire plan is to keep Greece without a government as its last assets are plundered via the Greek "rescue vehicle", events in Greece are once again going through their preset moves. Below, courtesy of Athens News is what is happening in the Greek capital today. Needless to say, if the headline comes that Samaras is unable to form a government, watch out below.
From Athens News :
12.55pm Antonis Samaras has received the exploratory mandate to form a government from the president. Speaking to the press at his meeting with the president, Samaras said:
I will try to form a government with the pro-European parties. We have to make the necessary amendments to the programme so that our people will get out of unemployment and out of the hardships that Greek households are going through. The new government has to be decisive on the issue of social cohesion. National understanding is imperative.
Responding, Papoulias said:
I want to congratulate you once more for your success and to underline that there is a great need for the formation of a government. The country cannot stay not even one hour without a government. I wish you every success in the effort that you are doing for the formation of a government.
12.50pm At noon, caretaker Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos tendered his government's resignation to President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias. The caretaker government will remain in office until the new government is sworn in.
12.35pm Antonis Samaras will meet with Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras at 2pm in parliament and with Pasok's Evangelos Venizelos at 6pm, New Democracy has announced
* * *
And perhaps most importantly, Germany will not renegotiate contrary to more stupid rumors:
1.40pm After two leading German politicians called for some easing of the deadlines for Greece to meet its memorandum targets (see 10.15am), a government spokesman has said that Germany does not believe the time is right for granting Greece any leeway or additional time on its reform commitments.
"It's decisive now for the troika to be convinced that Greece will stick to its agreements and fully implement the agreed reforms. Now is not the time for any kind of discounts to Greece," said deputy government spokesman Georg Streiter. Asked about whether there was any room for giving Greece extra time to meet its reform targets, as suggested by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle earlier on Monday, Streiter said: "We stand by what has been agreed."
