During the past seven months the Greek government has been negotiating with the representatives of the Quartet (as the former Troika has now become: European Commision, ECB, IMF, ESM) in order to bring the evaluation of the new bailout program of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The negotiation, on behalf of the Greek people, is taking place behind the closed doors of the Hilton hotel. Still, Alexis Tsipras, the Greek PM, had vowed that his “government of the left” will not be negotiating via secret documents and leaks.
The Greek Prime Minister claimed that, on July 12, 2015, after 17 hours of tough negotiations, he was forced to stand down in order to save the country from certain doom. Yet Alexis Tsipras had gone to Brussels bearing a clear No, given to him by 61.3% of the Greek populace in answer to a set of measures that Greece's creditors were demanding. What followed during the negotiations made #thisisacoup into a worldwide trend precisely because the referendum had provided the citizens with the power to express their opinion on specific measures, and that very democratic decision was being overturned by the Brussels negotiators.
Two weeks ago, a Wikileaks revelation changed the ground of the negotiations was shaken. The reactions to that, demonstrated how public opinion can still play its part in the progress of the talks. Our opinion is that the public must become an active negotiator of its own.
Let us wonder who benefits from keeping a negotiation which concerns our future in the dark? Wouldn't the, infamous,” lines in the sand” become much stronger if the citizens knew what the creditors demand and what the Greek government is willing to concede to? Even if the citizens were to decide that the Quartet is blackmailing the country but there is no alternative route, this would also be a joint decision which could be positive rather than destructive.
Nevertheless, 7 months on, the Media keep speculating based on leaks and information which often prove to be false. It is time to put an end to that.
ThePressProject is publishing today the leak of the draft of the agreement (according to some scenarios, the disagreement) between the Greek government and the Quartet. Through our platform, you will be able to compare the agreement that has already been signed to the one that is being discussed. A set of our comments might help you get a clearer picture.
To the foreign reader, the terms of the agreement are not just a way to know in detail what the Greek situation is, and will become. Always remember that the Greek “drama” is closely linked to EU as well as the Euro. The negotiators are not only Greek, the misgivings are not only Greek. And, certainly, the policies, the measures and the underlying political views are not only Greek. The people talking behind those closed doors are all European, they are our politicians and what drives them to impose those measures on Greece will, in the near future, be the same set of beliefs that will make them decide on the future of the entire European Union and its member-countries.