Handelsblatt: Confrontation between Tsipras and lenders

Lenders are increasingly worried, the German daily writes, referring to the Greek Prime Minister's repeated statements that he is forced to implement a policy he does not believe in, under the pressure of the lenders.

"This strengthens the creditors' fears that Tsipras will reverse unpopular reforms and end budgetary discipline once he ceases to depend on support loans," the report said.

Apart from that, Handelsblatt notes that Mr. Tsipras has been in a difficult situation, referring to the fact that SYRIZA is lagging behind in opinion polls, while the economy does is not growing in line with expectations. Indeed, given that new pension cuts of up to 18% as of 1 January 2019 - and IMF pressures to lower the tax-free ceiling earlier. From the point of view of the Greek Prime Minister, it may be preferable to resort to early elections, before the new cuts are felt, says Handelsblatt.

"It is therefore possible to call the voters a year before the end of the normal legislative term," the paper continues.

The plans of Alexis Tsipras and the lenders are colliding, the report says. Athens wants to shake off support loans in August, shake off the bonds of austerity, the hated troika to leave the country for ever, and the debt colony to become once again a sovereign state. The Greek prime minister is aspiring to lift his debt relief measures by August, to go ahead with the elections in "autumn 2019 at the latest" and to win them, the newspaper continues.

"This was the plan, but the reality is different," the German daily said, commenting that "the final stretch is increasingly turning into an obstacle. Even if the government in Athens is able to fulfill all of the 88 pending reform conditions, as foreseen by June, the "clean exit", with which Tsipras wanted to complete the program, is increasingly becoming more distant... " .

Handelsblatt refers to statements by Euroworking Group chairman Hans Philebrif and ESM chief Claus Regling, who have made it clear that any measures to alleviate Greek debt will involve rigorous supervision after the end of the third program.