Greece was hanging on the edge of its seat as Alexis Tsipras addressed parliament in Athens for just the second time.
But the Greeks may have been left disappointed.
Following the announcement that Greece will postpone a key debt payment to its creditors, analysts had predicted the Syriza leader would announce any number of initiatives.
These ranged from calling a confidence vote – or even early elections – to announcing Greece was closer than ever to reaching a fresh deal with the troika to see the country financially through the summer.
Instead, he expressed shock that President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker had, apparently, pushed aside 3 months’ of negotiations. Juncker focussed on, in the prime minister’s words, “absurd” cash for reforms plan he says the Greek government would never accept.
The European Commission had, apparently proposed a 10 percent VAT increase on electricity and cutting benefits for low-income pensioners.
No Greek MP, Tsipras dec
