We’ve got extra time for cuts, Greek MPs told

Published on 25/10/2012 00:00

GREEK finance minister Yannis Stournaras yesterday said international lenders had given his government more time to impose ­austerity cuts in return for bailout funds.

European Union officials tried to play down his remarks, however. Germany said the EU would only decide on the matter after receiving a report on Greece’s progress from the so-called troika of lenders – the ­European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund.

ECB president Mario Draghi also said no final decision had been made.

Mr Stournaras, nonetheless, said the delay has been agreed and that a new package of austerity measures proposed by the government of prime minister Antonis Samaras would face a parliamentary vote in Athens next week. After months of wrangling on a package of spending cuts and reforms, he said the near-bankrupt country had won additional concessions from its lenders and largely wrapped up talks on the rescue package.

“Today, we obtained the extension,” Mr Stournaras told the Greek parliament.