German press blasts government, yet again

The German magazine calls Mr Samaras an “imaginary recuperant” alluding to Moliere, and wonders: “Is Greece, a full member of the EU and the eurozone a developing country? Is it in fact a failed state like Afghanistan, and soon to be Pakistan?”

Criticism does not stop there since Der Spiegel believes the economy is stagnant despite statements to the opposite from the Greek PM. The magazine notes that 'positive assessments' from the Greek side are used as a springboard for further demands, this time a “debt reduction.” It also adds that despite managing to improve certain economic indices Greece remains what it always was a country without a state mechanism, at least not an effective one. The author of the article stresses that whoever has a clear idea of government, justice, and politics in Greece must continue to doubt whether Greece will ever be set right.

The German magazine also mentions the transfer of German expert Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, slated to aid Greek-German local government collaboration from the ministry of labor to the ministry of economic collaboration and development, attributing this to fallout from the new German coalition government, although what this means for his role in Greece is unclear.

Spiegel stresses that sources in Brussels believe Greece may need another 9-10 billion euro aid program in 2015, despite Antonis Samaras' promises for a presidency “with hope.”

At the same time, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has commented on an interview given by government Evangelos Veizelos to its Sunday edition, noting that he is not afraid that his words will squelch the willingness of EU partners to further asid the country.

The conservative newspaper does take stock of the wording of Mr Venizelos statement that a possible Grexit could become a threat for German taxpayers, stressing that “this is the bitter truth in the fifth year of the Eurocrisis.”