Tsipras briefs president on meetings with lenders

On the sidelines of the meeting, to brief President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on the recent highly sensitive developments, Tsipras aides dismissed various “political scenarios” circulating in the Greek capital claiming that he’ll resign.

Pavlopoulos reiterated that Greece’s membership in the eurozone was unwavering.

Tsipras said the Greek side had officially requested a bailout line of credit from the ESM, with a detailed list of reforms to be submitted to creditors on Thursday. The Greek PM referred to “credible reforms aimed at achieving an honest compromise”.

He said the Greek side is waiting for clear commitments on funding and a restructuring of debt aimed at a viable solution.

Tsipras met later with Potami party leader Stavros Theodorakis, who has voiced a powerful pro-Europe stance.

“Our allies, those that want Greece to remain in the euro exist, and they are working in the same direction that we are. Amongst those is President Hollande. There are opponents in Europe who are smiling at the prospect that we’ll abandon them. We won’t do them the favor, and their smile will be frozen on their lips,” Theodorakis said afterwards.

However, he wasn’t expected to brief Vangelis Meimarakis, the main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader on Wednesday evening. Later it was announced that Tsipras would meet with Meimarakis on Thursday. Meimarakis, meeting with president Pavlopoulos said that he would only meet with the PM aqlong with all party leaders under condition that minutes be kept.

ND sources have expressed displeasure with the one-on-one briefings instead of Parliament appearances.